Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to not invite S. Korea to partake in naval review next month

Destroyers partaking in the 2018 International Naval Review off the coast of Seogwipo, Jeju, on Oct. 11, 2018. (Blue House photo pool)

Seoul responds by saying it never even received an invitation

An official decision was made not to have the South Korean Navy participate in a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) naval review next month, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Sept. 24. In response to the report, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it had never received an invitation from Japan. Its answer was seen as indicating the position that Seoul had no reason to consider attending when Japan did not extend an invitation as host country.

In a report citing a Japanese government official, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, “In response to the South Korean Navy’s refusal to acknowledge the facts regarding the use of fire-control radar on a JMSDF patrol aircraft last December or produce measures to prevent similar incidents from happening, the Japanese government has decided not to have the South Korean military participate in the review.” JMSDF holds naval reviews every three to four years, with warships invited from Japan’s allies; this year’s event is scheduled to take place in Sagami Bay off of Kanagawa Prefecture on Oct. 14. In addition to the US and UK, China is also reportedly participating in the review.

Tokyo’s stance appeared to reflect ongoing tensions between the two sides since last year. JMSDF previously planned to send a destroyer to an international naval review held off of Jeju by the South Korean Navy last October, but decided against it after Seoul demanded that it not display the Rising Sun flag. Bilateral military exchanges were subsequently halted amid the resulting chill after a standoff between a South Korean Navy Destroyer and JMSDF patrol aircraft involving the use of radar and threatening flight activities. Frictions have recently intensified between South Korea and Japan with a South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordering compensation for forced labor conscription, Japan’s imposition of export controls and removal from its white list of countries benefiting from expedited export review procedures for strategic items, and South Korea’s decision to terminate its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan.

In a texted announcement, MND said the South Korean military “never received any invitation from Japan concerning the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force naval review.”

“Attendance of the review is a matter for Japan to decide as host country,” it added.

MND went on to say that the military would “consider whether to attend and provide notification of the results if it does receive an invitation from Japan as host country.”

“Nothing has been decided at present because we have yet to receive an invitation from Japan,” it explained.

　

By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer

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