Recently, to resolve misunderstandings through dialogue and to promote the bilateral defense cooperation, the ROK and Japan held a bilateral working-level video conference.

However, in a deeply concerning and regrettable move, Japan released the video just a day after the conference.

As we have repeatedly emphasized, the ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great was conducting regular rescue operation.

We reiterate the fact that the ROK Navy did not operate STIR against Japan’s patrol aircraft.

THE ROK NAVY ASKS WHAT IS JMSDF TRYING TO ACHIEVE ?

Dec.20, 2018 Approx. 15:00 (GMT + 09:00) East Sea

ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great was conducting a humanitarian rescue operation for a broken vessel found drifting.

During the rescue operation, a Japanese patrol aircraft approached at low altitude.

 

1. Why did the Japanese patrol aircraft conduct threatening low-altitude flight at the site of a humanitarian rescue operation?

The Japanese aircraft approached ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great by 500m distance at 150m altitude

The distance was close enough for the crew to feel immense tremors and noise from the aircraft

The video released by Japan shows that the patrol aircraft was well aware of the rescue situation.

By continuing unmannerly reconnaissance against a ship engaged in a humanitarian rescue operation, the patrol aircraft perpetrated a serious act of threat against ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great.

As such actions may incur accidental collision, military aircraft armed with munitions must not conduct threatening low-altitude flight against warships of other nations.

Why did the Japanese patrol aircraft conduct such a threatening low-altitude flight?

Japan will have to answer

2. Japan claims to have complied with the international law - is it true?

Japan’s Ministry of Defense posted the data to claim their compliance to the international law. The data comes from “the Convention on International Civil Aviation” and “the Enforcement Regulation of Aviation Law of Japan.”

Japan also claims that the patrol aircraft’s flight attitude of 150m does not conflict with international law

The source of the said documents is Annex 2-4 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Convention on International Civil Aviation. It contains an article restricting a contact flight below 150m altitude.

However, the purpose of the Annex is in setting up a general rule of flight to ensure the safe flight of civil aircraft.

The ICAO’s Convention on International Civil Aviation clearly states that the convention does not apply to military aircraft.

Japan is arbitrarily distorting and misinterpreting the international law.
 

3. ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great did not illuminate the “Signal” Tracking and illuminating Radar (STIR) toward the Japanese patrol aircraft

ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great activated only the search radar for the humanitarian rescue of the drifting ship

The video released by Japan reveals that the patrol aircraft continued to fly around ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great even after claiming the detection of radar frequency.

The Fire-control (FC) radar Japan mentions falls in the STIR category

According to Japan’s video, during the low-altitude flight, the patrol aircraft confirmed that ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great’s artillery (guns) “[was] not aimed at us” and had no intent to attack.

If ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great had activated STIR against the patrol aircraft, the aircraft would have immediately executed avoidance maneuvers. But in a counterintuitive move, the aircraft approached ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great again.

Why did Japan act this way? Japan will have to answer.
 

4. The Japanese patrol aircraft’s communication was unclear

The audio communication Japan attempted contained severe static ; ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great could not discern the message.

Furthermore, by the time the Japanese patrol aircraft attempted the communication, the aircraft was already considerably separated from the rescue operation area

ROK Navy has not conducted any act of threat against the patrol aircraft of our friendly nation

If Japan has an evidence of radar usage (frequency information) the evidence may be provided at a bilateral working-level meeting

Japan will have to apologize for conducting a threatening low-altitude flight against our ship in the middle of a humanitarian rescue operation.

Japan will have to stop politicizing the issue and start the verification procedure through working-level consultation

Ministry of National Defense