Symbolic implications of reviving the joint search and rescue program between Japan and South Korea

On June 7, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean Navy conducted a joint search and rescue exercise west of Japan’s Goto Islands, marking the first exercise of its kind between the two navies after a nine-year break.

The Japanese destroyer “Kongo”, equipped with the “Aegis” system and a SH-60K helicopter, participated in the training, while the South Korean Navy deployed the “Chunjabong”-class landing ship “Chunwangbong.”

In addition to search and rescue operations, the training included a communication exercise between ships and aircraft to exchange tactical data, helicopter operations from the deck of each ship, and an aerial photography exercise, elements that enhance interoperability beyond the scope of humanitarian missions.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces confirmed that the training improved search and rescue capabilities and strengthened cooperation between the two sides, and the resumption of these maneuvers carries very important symbolic connotations. Bilateral defense relations collapsed after allegations emerged that a South Korean destroyer directed its fire control radar at a B-1 maritime patrol plane belonging to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces in December 2018, which led to one of the worst crises in defense relations between Japan and South Korea after the war, and it stopped. Exchanges have been in effect for years.

The 2024 dialogue was a turning point, as the two defense ministers agreed on measures to prevent the recurrence of skirmishes, and then the Yokosuka Ministerial Meeting in January 2026 approved the resumption of the SARIX maneuvers, along with agreements to hold annual ministerial meetings and explore cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and space.

Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro described the exercises as “the beginning of a new chapter” in bilateral defense cooperation, and is expected to visit Seoul later this month for further talks.

North Korea’s advanced nuclear and missile capabilities remain the stated focus of bilateral security cooperation, but the expansion of China’s naval presence in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the waters surrounding Taiwan, along with growing uncertainty about future US alliance commitments, has created additional incentives for Tokyo and Seoul to enhance coordination.

Neither government explicitly mentioned China in official documents, with the joint statement issued in January 2026 limiting itself to referring to the “worsening security environment,” but the structural pressures were clear.

Given that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung sought to stabilize bilateral relations last May, the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s future regional role provided an additional incentive to enhance coordination.

However, in the same week that the issue of the “worsening security environment” made headlines, Myung provided a strikingly frank reminder of the distance that still separates this relationship from achieving its goals.

Myung said, in a press conference held on June 8, marking the one-year anniversary of his assuming office, that the Acquisition and Exchange Services Agreement (ACSA), which allows the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean army to exchange fuel, food and supplies, has a “practical necessity,” but he added that “it is difficult for public opinion currently to accept this matter emotionally,” citing the legacy of Japanese colonial rule.

In practice, the Acquisition and Reciprocal Services Agreement is a simple administrative arrangement and, in essence, a mechanism to pay for logistical support costs. Japan signed a similar agreement with Australia in 2010 without significant controversy.

But in the South Korean political context, this agreement carries deep historical connotations, as it constitutes an indirect discussion about the limits of military integration between Japan and South Korea. About “The Diplomat”