"Rising Sun Flag-Bearing Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vessel Coordinates Entry into Busan Port"

Yomiuri: "Due to the trend of improving Korea-Japan relations"
Will the 2018 International Fleet Review 'Rising Sun Flag controversy' reoccur?

The governments of South Korea and Japan are reportedly coordinating for a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) escort ship participating in a South Korea-hosted multinational exercise to enter Busan Port flying the Self-Defense Forces flag.

Yomiuri reported on the 25th, citing officials from both governments, that "the JMSDF escort ship plans to enter Busan Port flying the Self-Defense Forces flag and engage in exchanges with officials from various countries," adding that "this is in line with the improving South Korea-Japan relations under South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration." It further explained, "Both countries intend to further promote exchanges in the defense sector."

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Suzutsuki" entered Qingdao Port, Shandong Province, on April 21, 2019, flying the Rising Sun Flag to participate in the international fleet review hosted by China. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The timing is expected to be around the end of this month, before and after the multinational exercise 'Eastern Endeavor 23' held in international waters southeast of Jeju on the 31st. This exercise is hosted by South Korea and involves the United States, Japan, and Australia. The JMSDF plans to dispatch the escort ship Hamagiri, which will fly the Self-Defense Forces flag featuring the Rising Sun design.

If a JMSDF vessel flying the Self-Defense Forces flag enters Busan Port, there is a possibility of a recurrence of the controversy over the Rising Sun flag that arose during the international fleet review in November 2018. At that time, the JMSDF was invited to the international fleet review hosted by South Korea, but due to the controversy over the Rising Sun flag, the JMSDF vessels ultimately did not participate. The Self-Defense Forces flag is a type of Rising Sun flag and has been criticized as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

Yomiuri stated, "During the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018, the Rising Sun flag was unilaterally challenged and a request was made to refrain from flying it," adding, "If the port entry is realized, South Korea's response to the Self-Defense Forces flag will return to a form consistent with international rules." The Japanese Self-Defense Forces Act mandates that JMSDF vessels fly the Self-Defense Forces flag.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.