Japan MSDF Chief to Join Naval Symposium in S. Korea

October 10, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese Defense Ministry's Maritime Staff Office said Tuesday the head of the Maritime Self-Defense Force will participate in a symposium related to an international fleet review in South Korea that the MSDF declined to join.

"We won't join the fleet review, but promoting Japan-South Korea defense cooperation is extremely important," MSDF Chief of Staff Adm. Yutaka Murakawa told a regular press conference on the day.

The biennial Western Pacific Naval Symposium will be held in South Korea on Friday, with senior naval officials from 47 countries, including the host nation, seen discussing issues including national security, according to an official of the office.

Murakawa's attendance has been planned as past MSDF chiefs customarily attended the symposium, the official said.

The MSDF received an invitation to the fleet review from the host country. But it declined the offer after South Korea effectively requested a participating MSDF ship not to display the MSDF's rising sun flag with sun rays during the event.

In South Korea, there is antipathy toward the flag and many think it symbolizes Japan's past militarism as its design is the same as that of the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military's flag.15. Jiji Press