Tensions have flared between South Korea and Japan through year-end and New Year’s. Tokyo
claimed that a South Korean warship locked its fire-control radar on a Japanese maritime
patrol aircraft late last year. However, Seoul denied the claim saying that Japan misinterpreted
its naval operation to rescue a North Korean fishing boat that was drifting into international
waters of the East Sea. What exactly did happen on the high seas and whose allegation is true?
Let’s find out with K-news Today for Korea Now.
On December 20 last year, a Kawasaki P-1 patrol aircraft of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Force was flying over two South Korean vessels on the high seas, about 200km to the northeast
of the Dokdo Islets in the East Sea. One was the 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer
of the Navy and the other was the Sambong 5001, a 5,000-ton Coast Guard rescue boat.
They were on a rescue mission for a drifting North Korean fishing boat. In the meanwhile
the Japanese patrol aircraft carrying out a surveillance mission was irradiated by a
South Korean vessel. The very next day Japanese Defense Minister
Takeshi Iwaya said a South Korean warship had directed fire-control radar at the P-1
patrol aircraft on the previous day. Fire-control radar is usually employed to pinpoint the
location of target for missiles or shells. Therefore he criticized this incident as an
extremely dangerous act. However, South Korean Navy dismissed Tokyo’s claim about the targeting
of Japanese patrol aircraft. Seoul’s defense ministry said “our military was carrying
out a normal operation. It used radar during the operation but not for the purpose of tracking
Japanese patrol aircraft” in a text message sent to reporters on the same day.
Despite Seoul’s denial, Tokyo raised the issue repeatedly, and on December 28, Japanese
defense ministry eventually made public a 13-minute-long video clip taken by the maritime
patrol aircraft during its surveillance mission. Tokyo released the video, arguing that it
backs up its claim that a South Korean naval destroyer targeted the warplane with fire-control
radar, STIR 180. So the question boils down to whether the
South Korean destroyer really aimed her STIR 180 towards a Japanese patrol aircraft and
if so, whether it is such a dangerous act enough for Japan to lodge a strong protest.
The answer to the latter is ‘Yes’ because the radar is usually used shortly before a
warship fires a missile at a flying target. However, the former is yet to be clarified.
First of all, if you watch the video clip closely, it does not offer any clear evidence
of the destroyer activating the fire-control radar, STIR 180 aimed at the patrol airplane.
It only proves that the aircraft was targeted by radar which is within the frequency band
enabling alarm. Secondly, South Korea’s defense ministry accused Japan of releasing
“misleading” facts expressing “deep concern and regrets” over Japan’s release
of video footage and reaffirmed that her warship did not target STIR 180 against Japanese patrol
aircraft. If true, the Japanese aircraft could have been targeted by the destroyer’s MW-08
radar, typically mobilized for search mission, which does have fire-control as well function
however not linked with any weapon on that day. If Japan discloses the frequency band,
we can find the truth behind the case. Unfortunately Japan is refusing to do so by reason of “military
secrets.” Last but not least, there is no sense of urgency
both in the move of the aircraft and in the voice of the operator after its alleged discovery
of the destroyer’s radar directed at the plane itself. Even the aircraft was approaching
the destroyer after that, which is quite bizarre because evasion flight is a common respond
to being locked by FC radar such as STIR 180 directly linked with missiles. Furthermore
the video clip also showed that the Japanese patrol plane was flying only about 150 meters
above the South Korean warship—a flight that could be seen as posing a threat to the
destroyer engaging in the rescue operation. Japanese media reported that Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe had ordered the Ministry of Defense to release the video to elevate his declining
approval rating. We don’t know whether those reports are correct or not. Furthermore we
cannot be sure whose claim is true. However, the radar row is certainly adding fuel to
the fire in bilateral ties that have already frayed since the Supreme Court of Korea ruled
in favor of forced labor victims by Japanese firms during World War Ⅱ last year. Relations
have also deteriorated due to Seoul’s decision to dissolve a Tokyo-funded foundation on wartime
sexual slavery. More critics are saying that Seoul and Tokyo should stay calm and cooperate
with each other in the face of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. What are your
thoughts on this? Make sure you let me know in the comments below. Thank you for watching
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