[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Is a South Korea-Japan Joint Military Exercise Possible After the Summit?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the South Korean and U.S. leaders have agreed to strengthen joint exercises around the Korean Peninsula, attention is focusing on whether South Korea, the U.S., and Japan will conduct joint exercises together. However, the prevailing view is that it is realistically difficult since our military has never participated in exercises involving Japan.

Kim Sung-han, Director of the National Security Office, was asked about the response if North Korea conducts a seventh nuclear test. He said, "If necessary, we are preparing to discuss response measures in advance among the national security directors of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan." However, he added, "The topic of South Korea-U.S. joint exercises came up during the summit, but there was no mention of South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint exercises."

There have been continuous military frictions between South Korea and Japan. A representative incident was the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) patrol aircraft's low-altitude flight threat incidents in the East Sea and South Sea in December 2018 and January 2019. At that time, Japan's Ministry of Defense claimed that "the South Korean Navy destroyer Gwanggaeto the Great activated its fire control radar (STIR), which could be considered as a step just before an attack, targeting the JMSDF P-1 patrol aircraft in the East Sea," demanding an apology and measures to prevent recurrence from the Korean side.

Due to public sentiment in South Korea, Japanese warships have often been unable to enter domestic ports. The JMSDF ships first entered Busan Port in 1996, and later entered Incheon Port in 2007. In 2009, JMSDF ships entered Donghae Port to participate in the South Korea-Japan joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX).

Besides this, JMSDF ships participated in the international fleet review hosted by the South Korean Navy in Busan in 2008, but in 2018, during the fleet review held in Jeju Island, they eventually did not participate due to friction with the Korean side over the raising of the JMSDF ensign bearing the Rising Sun flag design.

Friction also continued regarding the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). When the Lee Myung-bak administration pushed for the South Korea-Japan GSOMIA in 2012, it was later revealed that the matter was handled secretly in a Cabinet meeting, causing a major controversy. The agreement was canceled just before signing. In 2014, the Ministry of National Defense publicly announced the agreement, which also sparked controversy. At that time, all ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly criticized it as a "secret agreement."

A military official said, "It is true that some level of cooperation is necessary to prepare for North Korea's provocations, but regarding the South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint exercises, there will likely be more internal deliberation."