Korea asks Japan Navy to drop Rising Sun flag during fleet review

Korea wants Japan not to hoist the Rising Sun flag not to be hoisted during an international fleet review.

By Oh Young-jin

Japan has rejected Korea's request that its ships not fly the controversial Rising Sun flag during an international fleet review that Korea hosts.

According to Yonhap News, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported that the South Korean Navy asked the 15 participating nations to fly their national flags and Korea's Taegukgi as the rules require.

Asahi said the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, its Navy, took this as a call not to use the flag, which has been in use since 1954.

The imperial Japanese army used the flag, which was taken to symbolize Japan's aggression and militarism by its victim countries such as Korea and China.

"We would consider not participating in the review if we can't fly our flag," a Japanese official was quoted as saying. "No country would accept such a request."