ID :
152098
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 01:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/152098
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to join in Japan-U.S. defense drills as observer+
TOKYO, Dec. 2 Kyodo -
South Korea will take part in the upcoming Japan-U.S. defense exercises as an
observer, the top Japanese government spokesman said Thursday, a move widely
seen as demonstrating solidarity between the three countries amid simmering
tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The joint exercises from Friday will come on the heels of the U.S.-South Korean
military drills in the Yellow Sea following North Korea's shelling late last
month of a South Korean island.
It is the first time that South Korea has decided to join in Japan-U.S. defense
exercises.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, however, said at a news conference
that he cannot provide details of the forthcoming drills considering Tokyo's
relations with Washington and Seoul.
According to government sources, the South Korean Defense Ministry plans to
dispatch several observers to the exercises between Japan's Self-Defense Forces
and the U.S. military in and around Japan that run through Dec. 10.
They are considering making aerial observations of drills in the Sea of Japan,
including one off the Noto Peninsula, but probably not those planned in the
Pacific waters off the main island of Okinawa and others in the Nansei Islands,
according to the sources.
The absence from the latter drills appears to be aimed at avoiding drawing
Chinese alarm because of the Nansei Islands' proximity to China.
By having South Korea take part in the upcoming exercises, Tokyo hopes to
demonstrate its support for its neighbor and win Seoul's assistance in
resolving disputes with North Korea over the issue of abductions of Japanese
nationals, according to observers.
Japan, which is concerned about China's growing military and at odds with
Beijing over territorial issues, also hopes to build a cooperative relationship
with the South over situations concerning China, they say.
The 10th joint exercises, which originated in fiscal 1986, will draw a total of
about 44,000 personnel from Japan and the United States, with about 60 vessels
and 400 airplanes taking part.
The vessels include the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George
Washington, which finished participating in the four-day drills in the Yellow
Sea that ran through Wednesday, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
Aegis-equipped destroyers.
Training maneuvers are planned for guarding against ballistic missile attacks
and defending remote Japanese islands.
Japan took part in joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises in July as an
observer.
==Kyodo
South Korea will take part in the upcoming Japan-U.S. defense exercises as an
observer, the top Japanese government spokesman said Thursday, a move widely
seen as demonstrating solidarity between the three countries amid simmering
tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The joint exercises from Friday will come on the heels of the U.S.-South Korean
military drills in the Yellow Sea following North Korea's shelling late last
month of a South Korean island.
It is the first time that South Korea has decided to join in Japan-U.S. defense
exercises.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, however, said at a news conference
that he cannot provide details of the forthcoming drills considering Tokyo's
relations with Washington and Seoul.
According to government sources, the South Korean Defense Ministry plans to
dispatch several observers to the exercises between Japan's Self-Defense Forces
and the U.S. military in and around Japan that run through Dec. 10.
They are considering making aerial observations of drills in the Sea of Japan,
including one off the Noto Peninsula, but probably not those planned in the
Pacific waters off the main island of Okinawa and others in the Nansei Islands,
according to the sources.
The absence from the latter drills appears to be aimed at avoiding drawing
Chinese alarm because of the Nansei Islands' proximity to China.
By having South Korea take part in the upcoming exercises, Tokyo hopes to
demonstrate its support for its neighbor and win Seoul's assistance in
resolving disputes with North Korea over the issue of abductions of Japanese
nationals, according to observers.
Japan, which is concerned about China's growing military and at odds with
Beijing over territorial issues, also hopes to build a cooperative relationship
with the South over situations concerning China, they say.
The 10th joint exercises, which originated in fiscal 1986, will draw a total of
about 44,000 personnel from Japan and the United States, with about 60 vessels
and 400 airplanes taking part.
The vessels include the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George
Washington, which finished participating in the four-day drills in the Yellow
Sea that ran through Wednesday, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's
Aegis-equipped destroyers.
Training maneuvers are planned for guarding against ballistic missile attacks
and defending remote Japanese islands.
Japan took part in joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises in July as an
observer.
==Kyodo
