Japan may seek to work with S. Korea in Middle East missions

January 22, 2020

Tokyo--Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday indicated the possibility of the country considering seeking to cooperate with South Korea in their missions to ensure sea lane safety in the Middle East.

"While Japan conducts its own measures, it is extremely important to cooperate and communicate on an as-needed basis with countries which share our aims," Suga told a press conference.

"We will closely watch moves by the South Korean government," the top Japanese government spokesman added.

Japan's cabinet late last year decided to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force units to the Middle East on a mission to gather information to ensure safe navigation by ships linked to the country. Two MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft arrived there earlier this month, and a destroyer is set to leave for the region next month.

South Korea's National Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it will send naval units to waters near the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, to help commercial ships related to the country sail safely in the areas. Jiji Press