Korea and Japan to Hold Naval Search and Rescue Exercise for the First Time in Nine Years

Korean Amphibious Landing Ship and Japanese Aegis Destroyer to Join Exercise on June 7

The Korea Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will participate in the Korea-Japan Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) scheduled for June 7. This marks the first time in nine years that the exercise will be held, with the last one taking place in 2017.

Defense Minister An Kyubaek held talks with Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's Minister of Defense, on the 30th (local time) during the 23rd Asia Security Conference held in Singapore. Photo by Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News Agency

On May 30, during his opening remarks at a bilateral meeting with Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's Minister of Defense, held on the sidelines of the 23rd Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) in Singapore, Defense Minister An Kyubaek stated, "The resumption of the Korea-Japan search and rescue exercise after nine years carries both symbolic and declarative significance." He added, "Korea and Japan must further develop and deepen this important cooperation," and noted, "Both countries should broaden their perspectives, overcome minor differences, and always strive for bigger objectives."

The Korea-Japan Search and Rescue Exercise is a joint drill where the two countries' naval vessels practice procedures for responding together to maritime distress incidents near the Korean Peninsula. First launched in 1999 and held biennially, the exercise was suspended after the tenth iteration in 2017 due to the deterioration of defense cooperation between the two countries. This breakdown was triggered by controversies such as the display of the Rising Sun flag by a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel at the 2018 International Fleet Review in Jeju, as well as the Korea-Japan patrol aircraft dispute in the same year.

Since then, the defense authorities of both countries have been working to rebuild defense exchange and cooperation. At the defense ministers' meeting in Japan this January, they agreed to resume the Korea-Japan Search and Rescue Exercise and have since coordinated the timing for its revival.

This year's exercise, returning after nine years, will take place in international waters southeast of Jeju. It will include search and rescue operations for a simulated distressed vessel, fire suppression on board, emergency medical treatment, and helicopter landings and takeoffs. The Republic of Korea Navy will deploy the 4,900-ton Cheonjabong-class landing ship (LST-II), while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will send the 7,250-ton Kongou-class Aegis destroyer (DDG) and an SH-60K maritime operations helicopter.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Minister An also held bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of the Philippines, Norway, and the Netherlands. He asked the Philippine minister to pay attention to Korean companies participating in the Philippine military modernization project, and emphasized to the Norwegian minister—whose country has acquired the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher—the need to further strengthen bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.