Korean media: Are you looking at the faces of Japanese people? Island | Scale | Japanese
The South Korean military revealed on the 7th that a "non-public small-scale" exercise was held at the end of June this year on Dokdo, a disputed island between South Korea and Japan. However, this practice has sparked controversy, and some South Korean media have questioned that South Korea's reduction in the scale of the exercise and its conversion to a non-public exercise is watching the face of the Japanese.
South Korea holds "small-scale non-public" exercises on disputed islands between South Korea and Japan
According to Yonhap News Agency on the 7th, the South Korean military held its first Dokdo defense exercise of the year at the end of June, which was conducted in a non-public form. This is the third time since the establishment of the Yoon Seok yeol government that South Korea has held this exercise, with the participation of the South Korean Navy and Coast Guard vessels, and the scale of the participating forces is basically the same as last year.
After Yin Xiyue took office, the aircraft and landing forces did not participate in the exercise
However, Yonhap News Agency noted that previous governments have conducted multiple large-scale exercises, mobilizing air force fighter jets and Marine Corps landing forces, and announcing exercise plans in advance. However, since Yin Xiyue took office, neither the aircraft nor the landing forces have participated in the exercise, resulting in a significant reduction in scale. An analysis suggests that this reflects the active efforts of the Yin Xiyue government to improve relations with Japan.
Japanese media: The South Korean military's low-key exercises are aimed at avoiding excessive stimulation of Japan
Japanese media reported that the South Korean military held "non-public small-scale" exercises on disputed islands to avoid excessive stimulation of Japan. On the 7th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement protesting against South Korea's military exercises.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyoshi Matsuno
Both in historical facts and international law, Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan. The exercise by the South Korean military is unacceptable, and we deeply regret it.
Japan and South Korea are constantly embroiled in disputes over the ownership of disputed islands
The disputed islands between South Korea and Japan are located approximately 90 kilometers east of Yuling Island in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula. They consist of two uninhabited small islands in the east and west, as well as dozens of surrounding rocky reefs, with an area of only 0.186 square kilometers. South Korea refers to the island as "Dokdo", while Japan refers to it as "Takeshima". South Korea, Japan, and North Korea all claim sovereignty over the island, and South Korea has effectively controlled Dokdo since 1953. There have been ongoing disputes between Japan and South Korea over the ownership of the islands. On May 2nd this year, Tian Rongji, a member of the largest opposition party in South Korea, the Democratic Party of Korea, led a youth group to the disputed island. The Japanese government immediately lodged a "strong protest" against South Korea.
Despite recent efforts by the United States to ease relations between South Korea and Japan, Japan has taken a tough stance towards South Korea on the disputed island issue. In the 2023 version of the Diplomatic Blue Book released by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April this year, Japan claimed that "Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan, both in terms of historical facts and international law.". The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested against this and urged Japan to immediately withdraw the relevant statements.
South Korean media: South Korean troops have drawn the disputed islands out of the scope of the exercise due to Japanese inquiries.
However, South Korean media revealed that just that month, the exercise conducted by the South Korean Navy in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula was scaled down due to Japan's response.
It is understood that before the exercise began, South Korea set up a "navigation warning zone" around the disputed islands. But Japan asked the South Korean side about the reason for issuing a maritime warning near the disputed island, and a few days later, the South Korean army lifted the area around Dokdo from the warning area. According to South Korean media, at that time, the South Korean government had just concluded the South Korean Japan summit and accelerated the pace of improving South Korean Japan relations. The South Korean Navy explained that there have been instances of adjusting the alert area based on changes in the detailed exercise plan, which has nothing to do with Japan.
