By Lee Min-hyung
Japan's navy will not send a warship to an international fleet review to be held on Jeju next week due to the controversy over its flying of the "Rising Sun Flag."
"On Friday morning, Japan sent a notification that it would not dispatch the warship to the event hosted by the South Korean Navy," a government official said.
The decision came amid a fierce backlash from Seoul which asked Tokyo to refrain from joining the event with a ship flying the flag that most Koreans believe is a symbol of Japan's wartime atrocities.
Until recently, Japan did not show any signs of stepping back from its previous position by saying that the flag is the pride of the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force, so it would not use another flag despite opposition from Korea.
Despite a series of requests from Seoul, Japan continued to reiterate its willingness to take part in the event with its warship flying the flag. On Thursday, Kyodo News quoted Katsutoshi Kawano, the head of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as saying that the country's navy would never join a fleet review without the flag.
The South Korean Navy remained in the hot seat amid the worsening public sentiment against Japan's plan, as it does not have authority to restrict extraterritoriality. Under international law, South Korea cannot impose any legal sanctions on Japanese warships flying the Rising Sun Flag.
The Navy, for this reason, requested Japan to refrain from flying the flag during the upcoming event, and instead, raise the country's national flag in consideration of public sentiment here.
The International Fleet Review will take place from Oct. 10 to 14 on Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. Fifteen nations ― including Japan, China and the United States ― were invited to the event.
NK vents rage against Japan
On Friday, North Korea also stepped up criticism of Japan, calling for the South to disallow the participation of a Japanese warship flying the flag.
"The South should sternly disapprove of the plan, rather than requesting the country not to carry the flag," Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean propaganda website, said.
"The plan to join the review with the Rising Sun Flag is an act of intolerable insult to the Korean people and international society," it said.
Pyongyang also voiced complaints against Seoul for hosting the event, and inviting 15 countries from around the world.
"Seoul's plan to hold the event is against the ongoing mood for peace on the Korean Peninsula," it said.
Maeari, a pro-North Korean media outlet, demanded the South disallow Japan's participation to reflect the strong backlash from the public.
"The Rising Sun Flag symbolizes Japan's heinous past wrongdoings as a war criminal," it said. "South Korea should take stern measures by disallowing the participation of the Japanese warship carrying the flag."
Amid the escalating controversy, Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea proposed Tuesday revisions to existing regulations to ban vessels carrying the controversial flag from navigating the South's territorial waters.
He also proposed a revision to punish those who manufacture, wear or spread any items symbolizing Japan's wartime atrocities by imposing a fine of up to 3 million won ($2,650) or a prison term of less than two years.
Japan's navy will not send a warship to an international fleet review to be held on Jeju next week due to the controversy over its flying of the "Rising Sun Flag."
"On Friday morning, Japan sent a notification that it would not dispatch the warship to the event hosted by the South Korean Navy," a government official said.
The decision came amid a fierce backlash from Seoul which asked Tokyo to refrain from joining the event with a ship flying the flag that most Koreans believe is a symbol of Japan's wartime atrocities.
Until recently, Japan did not show any signs of stepping back from its previous position by saying that the flag is the pride of the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force, so it would not use another flag despite opposition from Korea.
Despite a series of requests from Seoul, Japan continued to reiterate its willingness to take part in the event with its warship flying the flag. On Thursday, Kyodo News quoted Katsutoshi Kawano, the head of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as saying that the country's navy would never join a fleet review without the flag.
The South Korean Navy remained in the hot seat amid the worsening public sentiment against Japan's plan, as it does not have authority to restrict extraterritoriality. Under international law, South Korea cannot impose any legal sanctions on Japanese warships flying the Rising Sun Flag.
The Navy, for this reason, requested Japan to refrain from flying the flag during the upcoming event, and instead, raise the country's national flag in consideration of public sentiment here.
The International Fleet Review will take place from Oct. 10 to 14 on Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. Fifteen nations ― including Japan, China and the United States ― were invited to the event.
NK vents rage against Japan
On Friday, North Korea also stepped up criticism of Japan, calling for the South to disallow the participation of a Japanese warship flying the flag.
"The South should sternly disapprove of the plan, rather than requesting the country not to carry the flag," Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean propaganda website, said.
"The plan to join the review with the Rising Sun Flag is an act of intolerable insult to the Korean people and international society," it said.
Pyongyang also voiced complaints against Seoul for hosting the event, and inviting 15 countries from around the world.
"Seoul's plan to hold the event is against the ongoing mood for peace on the Korean Peninsula," it said.
Maeari, a pro-North Korean media outlet, demanded the South disallow Japan's participation to reflect the strong backlash from the public.
"The Rising Sun Flag symbolizes Japan's heinous past wrongdoings as a war criminal," it said. "South Korea should take stern measures by disallowing the participation of the Japanese warship carrying the flag."
Amid the escalating controversy, Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea proposed Tuesday revisions to existing regulations to ban vessels carrying the controversial flag from navigating the South's territorial waters.
He also proposed a revision to punish those who manufacture, wear or spread any items symbolizing Japan's wartime atrocities by imposing a fine of up to 3 million won ($2,650) or a prison term of less than two years.
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