Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Japan's reluctance to reveal radar frequency fuels dispute
Seen above is video footage released by Japan's Ministry of Defense on Friday. / Screen capture from YouTube
By Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
The ongoing diplomatic tension between Seoul and Tokyo is showing no signs of abating, with Japan reiterating its firm determination not to disclose critical data that holds the key to resolving the recent conflict between a South Korean warship and Japanese patrol airplane.
Seoul wants Japan to reveal data on the frequency of the radar waves to back up the latter's repeated claim that the Korean destroyer directed its fire-control radar at the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft.
But Japan declined to do so, citing concerns over a leak of confidential military information. With a lack of such critical information, Japan released video footage on Friday which the country claims is proof to show that the Korean warship locked fire-control radar on the Japanese aircraft on Dec. 20.
The footage showed the Japanese patrol plane was flying only about 150 meters above the South Korean vessel, which Seoul viewed an “irregular act of provocation.” The South has claimed the vessel did not pose any security threat to the Japanese plane, so it is unjustifiable for the plane to fly at such a low altitude.
Japan's argument stands in total contrast to that of South Korea.
South Korea said the vessel was carrying out a humanitarian mission in the East Sea to rescue a North Korean fishing boat adrift there.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said the footage is not objective enough to prove Japan's claim. Both countries are still in talks to narrow their differences over the diplomatic disagreement.
“The South Korean military has urged Japan to provide specific evidence to support such a claim, and it is regrettable that Japan is seeking to cover up the fact by revealing this footage,” a military official said.
Without taking South Korea's demand to disclose the frequency data into consideration, Japan also posted the footage online, adding English subtitles to the original video.
Since the conflict arose, Seoul and Tokyo have had two rounds of talks last week to resolve the controversy. But with the two making contradictory claims over the incident, their diplomatic tension is expected to continue for the time being.
“South Korea has expressed its views, but there are some factual mistakes,” Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said in a press conference last week.
No progress has since been made over the dispute. South Korea's defense ministry said it would continue engaging in talks with its Japanese counterpart to get the facts straight.