EXCLUSIVE: Japan, S. Korea Eyeing Joint Exercise in Early June

Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and South Korean governments are planning to conduct a joint search and rescue exercise around the second week of June, informed sources told Jiji Press Friday. The exercise is seen to be carried out by Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the South Korean navy. Japan and South Korea have not held such an exercise since 2017 due to a 2018 incident in which a South Korean warship directed its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol plane. The two countries’ joint exercises to confirm search and rescue procedures in response to maritime accidents began in 1999. A drill was held every other year from 2003 until 2017. Following improved bilateral relations, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, agreed on the resumption of the exercise during their meeting in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, in January. A Japanese Defense Ministry official said that the restart “will help build momentum for exchanges between Japan and South Korea.” In late June, Koizumi is expected to visit South Korea to meet with Ahn. They are expected to welcome the resumption of the joint exercise and discuss further promoting exchanges between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean military. While bilateral defense exchanges had been suspended since the radar incident, Japan and South Korea compiled measures to prevent any recurrence and agreed to resume exchanges at a meeting of their defense ministers in 2024. Later, a joint search and rescue exercise was planned for November 2025 but was called off due to a decision by the South Korean side. The decision came in apparent retaliation for Japan’s cancellation of a plan to refuel South Korean air force aircraft following the revelation that the aircraft had flown near the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan. The islands, effectively controlled by South Korea, are claimed by Japan. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]