Japan and South Korea Resume Joint Naval Drills After Nine-Year Hiatus

Bilateral Naval Drills Reinstated

Japan and South Korea have officially agreed to resume bilateral naval search and rescue drills, marking the end of a nine-year hiatus in these joint exercises. The agreement was reached on Friday, January 30, 2026, during a meeting between South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, held in Yokosuka, Japan. The resumption of these drills, known as SAREX (Search and Rescue Exercise), is intended to foster military exchange, enhance mutual understanding, and build trust between the two nations' armed forces.

End to a Nearly Decade-Long Pause

The last time these maritime exercises were conducted was in 2017. The prolonged pause in joint drills stemmed from a period of strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo, largely due to historical grievances and specific incidents that dampened bilateral ties.

• One significant event was Japan's withdrawal from a South Korean fleet review in 2018, following South Korea's request for participating ships not to display naval ensigns, particularly Japan's 'Rising Sun' flag, which is viewed by many in South Korea as a symbol of past Japanese imperialism.
• Another point of contention in 2018 involved a dispute over a South Korean military vessel allegedly directing its radar at a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. South Korea disputed this claim, asserting that the Japanese plane had conducted a low-altitude flight.

Both countries, however, agreed on a joint document in 2024 to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, paving the way for improved relations.

Renewed Commitment to Cooperation

The decision to restart the SAREX drills underscores a broader effort to deepen defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea. The South Korean Defense Ministry stated that the agreement is 'part of efforts to promote military exchange' and that both ministers 'concurred on activating personnel and unit exchange to boost mutual understanding and trust' between their respective militaries. The ministers also pledged to explore cooperation in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.

Broader Regional Security Context

This development follows recent high-level diplomatic engagements, including a summit earlier this month between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. The renewed bilateral cooperation is also seen within the context of strengthening trilateral security ties with the United States, particularly in addressing the evolving security challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Both defense chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to maintaining regional peace and stability.