S Korea to take part in Japan-U.S. drills as observer for 1st time

Thursday 02nd December, 05:12 AM JST

TOKYO —

South Korea may send observers to joint Japan-U.S. defense exercises from Friday, in what would constitute Seoul’s first ever participation in such drills by its Pacific allies, diplomatic sources said Thursday. The move, now being finalized, follows the U.S.-South Korean joint military drill in the Yellow Sea after North Korea’s shelling of a South Korean island, and is aimed at demonstrating solidarity between the three countries.

The South Korean Defense Ministry plans to dispatch several observers to the joint exercises between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military in and around Japan that run through Dec 10. They are considering making aerial observations of drills in the Sea of Japan, including one off the Noto Peninsula, but probably not those planned in the Pacific waters off the main island of Okinawa and others in the Nansei Islands, according to the sources.

The absence from the latter drills appears to be aimed at avoiding drawing Chinese alarm because of the Nansei Islands’ proximity to China. By having South Korea take part in the upcoming exercises, Tokyo hopes to demonstrate its support for its neighbor and win Seoul’s assistance in resolving disputes with North Korea over abduction issues, according to observers.

Japan, which is concerned about China’s growing military and at odds with Beijing over territorial issues, also hopes to build a cooperative relationship with the South over situations concerning China, they say.

The 10th joint exercises, which originated in fiscal 1986, will draw a total of about 44,000 personnel from Japan and the United States, with about 60 vessels and 400 airplanes taking part. The vessels include the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington, which has just finished the exercise in the Yellow Sea, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Aegis-equipped destroyers.

Training maneuvers are planned for guarding against ballistic missile attacks and defending remote Japanese islands.

Japan took part in joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises in July as an observer status.