This picture shows the ROK's Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship Marado. 

A fleet of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) recently went to Japan for a bilateral maritime joint training exercise, and the Japanese Defense Minister boarded ROKN's Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship Marado, according to Japanese media reports. This is the first time that a Japanese defense minister has boarded a warship of the ROK, which attracted attention from the outside world.

It is reported that the Japan-ROK joint maritime training took place in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Kii Peninsula of Honshu, Japan, and focused on maritime tactics. Military observer Cui Yiliang said that this joint training was relatively small in scale and low in intensity. In addition to the amphibious assault ship Marado, the ROKN only deployed landing ships and supply ships, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) dispatched a missile destroyer that has been in service for a long time. "Most of the participating ships of both sides are not main combat ships, and the joint training only lasted for one day," said Cui.

In 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Defense alleged that a destroyer of ROKN directed its fire-control radar at a JMSDF patrol aircraft, which the ROK denied, leading to a "war of words" between the two sides. As for whether this joint training between Japan and the ROK signals that the two countries would bury the hatchet, Cui believes that it remains to be seen.

"The relationship between Japan and the ROK cannot be substantially improved simply through a single joint training. In fact, it is the improvement in relations between the two countries that has facilitated such joint training," analyzed Cui. He further noted that Japan and the ROK may conduct joint training, exercises and other interoperability-enhancing actions, but such cooperation is more likely to be reflected in specific training activities rather than in areas like military technology or defense industry collaboration.

Historical issues and structural contradictions between Japan and the ROK have always been the fundamental obstacles to the development of bilateral relations. In recent years, under US influence, the two countries have begun to move toward "reconciliation." Especially after the US-Japan-ROK trilateral summit at Camp David in August 2023, Japan and the ROK have quickened their steps in diplomatic and defense cooperation.

Cui believes that the US-Japan alliance and the US-ROK alliance are two major pillars of US' Asia-Pacific alliance system. The reason why the US actively promotes the easing of Japan-ROK relations is to accelerate the construction of the US-Japan-ROK military alliance system.

"Although the US, Japan, and the ROK have common interests, their objectives are not entirely aligned, and there are differences in their priorities and demands. The premise of the current detente between Japan and the ROK is putting aside their historical contradictions, but these issues have not been fundamentally resolved. Additionally, changes in national leadership will also affect the relations between the three countries. In the future, the strengthened ties among the US, Japan, and the ROK could undermine the balance of power in the Western Pacific region," said Cui.

This picture shows Japan's P-1 anti-submarine patrol aircraft. 

Editor's note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.