Rising Sun flag puts Korean, Japanese navies on collision course
Tokyo has refused requests from Seoul that its warship refrain from flying the controversial naval ensign – seen by many in Asia as a symbol of colonialism – when it docks in Jeju for an international event
South Korea is to host the International Fleet Review over four days from October 10 at Jeju Island, with warships from 15 nations, including China and the United States in addition to Japan, taking part.
Such is the lingering animosity towards the Japanese military however, that South Korean navy sources and the foreign ministry in Seoul have asked Japan’s Maritime Self Defence Force (MSDF) not to fly the kyokujitsuki naval ensign and instead fly only the Japanese and South Korean national flags.
Clearly this is a deeply sensitive issue for the Koreans – and anyone who was occupied by the Japanese as a colonial power or in the second world war
The ministry has urged Tokyo to “consider the public sentiment our people have over the Rising Sun flag”, but Japan insists it has no intention of acceding to its demands, with defence minister Itsunori Onodera saying the flag would be raised “as a matter of course”.
While under international law, the ensign is the correct flag for a Japanese warship to fly, the issue could cause problems “if the Korean side wants it to”, said Garren Mulloy, an associate professor of international relations at Daito Bunkyo University and an expert on security issues.
“Clearly this is a deeply sensitive issue for the Koreans – and anyone who was occupied by the Japanese as a colonial power or in the second world war. I would say that its ‘imperial experience’ is the biggest issue for Korea.