SINGAPORE — South Korea and Japan have reached a new agreement aimed at preventing maritime disputes similar to the one that strained their military relations in 2018. The accord was announced by the defense ministers of both countries during discussions at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum in Singapore.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Minoru Kihara, the agreement focuses on improving communications and procedures to ensure the safe operation of their respective naval forces. The controversy in question erupted in December 2018 when a Japanese patrol aircraft flew at a low altitude near a South Korean warship, an act Seoul described as threatening. Tokyo countered by accusing the South Korean vessel of locking its fire-control radar on the aircraft, heightening tensions between the two nations.
The ministers stated that under the new agreement, both countries will adhere to the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea. This international maritime protocol is designed to prevent incidents at sea from escalating. It includes maintaining safe distances and altitudes and using established radio communication procedures to enhance mutual understanding and prevent misunderstandings.
The agreement also entails regular defense talks, including vice defense ministerial discussions and resumed working-level policy meetings. Additionally, there will be high-level exchanges between servicemen to rebuild trust and ensure smoother operations during peacetime encounters at sea.
"Both ministers concurred that South Korea-Japan security cooperation is the cornerstone of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, which stands firm and is beneficial for the two countries that share core values and strategic interest," read a joint statement from the ministers. They emphasized that such cooperation is crucial not only for deterring North Korean threats but also for supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Following the bilateral talks, Minister Shin highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement, noting that it aims to restore the level of exchanges to the status quo before the 2018 incident. He also mentioned upcoming discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a trilateral meeting, which will further cement the partnership among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo.
This renewed trilateral cooperation follows a significant trilateral summit at Camp David last August and comes after South Korea's initiative to resolve historical issues from Japan's colonial rule over Korea through a third-party reimbursement plan for forced labor victims.