The South Korean Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will hold a joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX) on July 7. This marks the first such training since 2017, raising hopes for the restoration of defense cooperation between the two countries.
According to Yonhap News on May 30, South Korean Defense Minister An Kyung-bae announced the exercise during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, a multilateral security conference in Singapore.
Minister An stated, "The resumption of the exercise after nine years carries symbolic and declarative significance. The two countries should further develop and deepen this cooperation."
The Korea-Japan search and rescue exercise is designed to review procedures for joint responses to maritime distress incidents near the Korean Peninsula. Initiated in 1999, the training was conducted biennially until 2017, when it was halted due to defense exchange disruptions stemming from the 'Rising Sun Flag' controversy and conflicts over patrol aircraft.
Last year, both countries aimed to resume the training, but it was canceled due to issues related to the Black Eagles' refueling support. Following ongoing discussions to restore defense exchanges, the two nations agreed to resume the exercise during a defense ministerial meeting earlier this year and have been coordinating the timing.
Minister Koizumi emphasized, "Given the current challenging security environment, cooperation between our two countries is essential. South Korea and Japan must take the lead in efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.