Seoul: South Korea and Japan will resume their joint maritime search and rescue exercises (SAREX) starting early next month, Seoul's defense chief announced. This move is seen as a significant step towards improving bilateral relations between the two countries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back revealed the plan during bilateral discussions with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. The SAREX drills are scheduled to commence on June 7 and will take place in international waters southeast of Jeju Island. The South Korean Navy noted that the exercise will involve the 4,900-ton ROKS Cheon Ja Bong landing ship, Japan's 7,250-ton Aegis-equipped Kongo destroyer, and a Japanese maritime patrol helicopter.
Initially launched in 1999, the biennial SAREX exercise aims to enhance coordinated responses between naval ships from both nations in the event of maritime incidents near the Korean Peninsula. However, the drills have been on hold since the 10th round in 2017 due to strained relations following a 2018 incident involving a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft's low-altitude flyby over a South Korean warship led to friction, as Seoul criticized the maneuver while Tokyo accused the South Korean vessel of targeting the plane with its fire-control radar.
The recent decision to resume the drills follows a June 2024 agreement during defense ministers' talks to prevent similar disputes. Ahn and Koizumi first agreed on the resumption of these exercises in their January meeting in Tokyo. Ahead of their current discussions in Singapore, Ahn emphasized the growing defense exchanges as a form of "ping-pong diplomacy," marking a new chapter in their bilateral relations.
Koizumi highlighted the importance of these meetings, not just as gestures of goodwill, but as necessities in light of the shared security challenges. He stressed the need for both countries to play a leading role in promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, alongside strategic cooperation through alliances with the United States.
During Saturday's talks, both ministers reiterated the significance of bilateral cooperation and the trilateral partnership with the United States to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. The two sides agreed on maintaining close communication to further enhance defense exchanges and cooperation by fostering mutual understanding and trust.
In a gesture of continued collaboration, arrangements are being made for Koizumi to visit South Korea in late June, following an invitation from Ahn, as confirmed by a Seoul official.