{"id":2205997,"date":"2024-08-06T17:01:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T08:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205997"},"modified":"2024-08-07T18:01:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T09:01:58","slug":"seoul-and-tokyo-boost-defense-ties-but-remain-vulnerable-to-political-winds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/08\/seoul-and-tokyo-boost-defense-ties-but-remain-vulnerable-to-political-winds\/","title":{"rendered":"Seoul and Tokyo boost defense ties, but remain vulnerable to political winds"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Korea and Japan have agreed to new measures to <\/span>strengthen<\/span><\/a> defense cooperation, but despite their efforts to move past the issues that vex them, the future of their ties with each other are still vulnerable to shifts in the political winds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The defense ministers of South Korea and Japan reached the deal to bolster collaboration on <\/span>July 29<\/span><\/a>, agreeing to enhance regular communication, reinstate consultative bodies, facilitate unit exchanges and resume joint search and rescue exercises (SAREX).<\/span><\/p>\n

The deal follows a <\/span>June<\/span><\/a> pledge to set aside differences regarding a 2018 radar lock-on dispute, which strained diplomatic relations for years and ended with the two sides essentially agreeing to disagree.<\/span><\/p>\n

But experts noted that the latest agreement falls short of an actual treaty, arguing that the two sides will need to take steps to ensure that their initiatives can endure political changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Otherwise a change in political leadership in South Korea or divergent positions on regional security issues, for instance, could jeopardize the progress made in defense cooperation, they said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s P-1 Kawasaki patrol aircraft in flight | Image: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

THE RADAR INCIDENT<\/b><\/p>\n

On Dec. 20, 2018, Japan <\/span>alleged<\/span><\/a> that the South Korean destroyer ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great targeted a Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft with its fire-control radar, which could be perceived as a prelude to a missile attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea <\/span>denied<\/span><\/a> the accusation, stating that the destroyer used its radar to search for a drifting North Korean fishing boat and <\/span>claiming<\/span><\/a> that the Japanese aircraft flew at a dangerously low altitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s defense ministry <\/span>maintained<\/span><\/a> that the P-1 was monitoring illegal North Korean activities and argued that the radar lock violated the <\/span>Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea<\/span><\/a>, a set of non-binding international guidelines to prevent military confrontations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shin Seung-ki, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), noted that the conflicting perspectives from both nations have complicated efforts to reach a definitive conclusion about the incident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom South Korea’s viewpoint, the radar was used for a search operation to locate a North Korean fishing boat, and the Japanese aircraft unintentionally entered its detection range due to its low altitude,\u201d Shin told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that while South Korea\u2019s radar was primarily focused on surface targets, the aircraft\u2019s close proximity might have led Japan to perceive the radar\u2019s intent as aggressive.<\/span><\/p>\n

The dispute escalated in <\/span>early 2019<\/span><\/a> when South Korea reported further low-altitude flybys by Japanese aircraft, prompting a stern warning from Seoul\u2019s defense ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n

The standoff continued until <\/span>2023<\/span><\/a> when both nations resumed talks after a three-year hiatus. They agreed to expedite discussions to prevent similar incidents and de-escalate the 2018 dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two countries reached a resolution in <\/span>June<\/span><\/a>, agreeing to new communication protocols for peacetime operations and regular consultations to ensure safety, effectively setting aside the issue while <\/span>maintaining<\/span><\/a> their respective positions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Rick Seif speaks with JMSDF Vice Admiral Tateki Tawara, ROK Navy Rear Admiral Lee Su Youl, and ROK Navy Lt. Commander Oh Dongkeon onboard a U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine on April 18, 2023 | Image: U.S. 7th Fleet<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

RESUMING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS<\/b><\/p>\n

Experts emphasized the importance of establishing robust communication channels and conducting interoperability exercises to prevent incidents like the 2018 radar lock-on dispute.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The chiefs of naval operations from both nations drafted an agreement in <\/span>June<\/span><\/a> detailing communication procedures between ships, aircraft and military headquarters to ensure smooth coordination during peacetime operations, avoid misunderstandings and foster trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile trilateral exercises with the United States and Japan are more intense, SAREX is crucial for maintaining a baseline of trust,\u201d Ban Kil-joo, a professor at the Ilmin International Relations Institute at Korea University, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

He emphasized the importance of adopting confidence-building measures, such as pre-notification of military activities and the establishment of hotlines, to prevent misinterpretations that could lead to unintended confrontations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, a project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that such \u201cchannels are essential to further advance coordination and cooperation \u2014 particularly during emergencies.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He suggested enhancing interoperability not just through technical systems but also by increasing exchanges and potentially stationing liaison officers within each other’s forces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yu Jihoon, a research fellow at KIDA, added that SAREX serves as an effective starting point for structured cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs such exercises become more systematic and frequent, the range of collaborative activities will expand, increasing mutual capabilities and trust, and reducing the potential for conflict,\u201d the expert stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

The ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991) participates in the ROK Navy’s East Sea territorial defense training near Dokdo in Aug. 2019 | Image: ROK Navy (Aug. 26, 2019)<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

THE POLITICAL FACTOR<\/b><\/p>\n

Experts cautioned that progress made in reducing misunderstandings between South Korea and Japan through improved communication systems may be short-lived due to the volatile nature of their diplomatic relations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ban of the Ilmin International Relations Institute told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that the current agreement is \u201cnot a formal treaty but rather a government-to-government arrangement,\u201d making it vulnerable to changes in administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He recommended that South Korea and Japan further institutionalize their interactions by consistently operating joint communication channels and facilitating mutual unit exchanges to mitigate these risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yu of KIDA agreed, stating that \u201cexternal factors can deteriorate the relationship between countries, potentially leading to misinterpretations of actions,\u201d even with strong systems in place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bilateral ties between South Korea and Japan have long been vexed by tensions over <\/span>Japan’s territorial claims<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>historical issues<\/span><\/a> related to its occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yu explained that the Yoon administration\u2019s decision to prioritize ROK-Japan relations has helped to repair frayed ties, but a change in administration could cause diplomatic relations to revert to square one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hinata-Yamaguchi of the University of Tokyo said that while Japan\u2019s stance is unlikely to change, a potential liberal or progressive government in South Korea might view the relationship differently, potentially undermining cooperative efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He also raised concerns about the compatibility of Japan\u2019s posture toward China and North Korea with that of a liberal or progressive government in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how robust the systems and cooperation frameworks are, if political shifts dictate an antagonistic stance toward Japan, the military, being subject to political decisions, must comply,\u201d Yu said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The expert further warned that deteriorating political relations could invalidate previously established policies and systems, a scenario that must be avoided to maintain stability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He advocated for a consistent, long-term approach to defense policies with Japan, asserting that sustained defense cooperation efforts are essential to building long-term trust, ensuring stability and preventing misunderstandings between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Defense & Security<\/span><\/a>Inter-Korean & Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

South Korea and Japan have agreed to new measures to strengthen defense cooperation, but despite their efforts to move past the issues that vex them, the future of their ties with each other are still vulnerable to shifts in the political winds. 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