The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) conducted a bilateral Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) west of Japan’s Goto Islands on June 7, marking the first such drill between the two navies since 2017.
The exercise involved the Kongo-class Aegis destroyer JS Kongo (DDG-173) and an SH-60K helicopter on the Japanese side, while the ROK Navy deployed ROKS Cheon Ja Bong (LST-689), a Cheon Wang Bong-class tank landing ship. The drill included search-and-rescue operations, a LINKEX (Link Exercise), cross-deck helicopter operations, and a PHOTOEX.
Originally launched in 1999 as a humanitarian mechanism for responding to maritime accidents, the bilateral SAREX carries broader significance this time. Naval cooperation had largely stalled following the December 2018 fire-control radar incident, in which a South Korean destroyer allegedly illuminated a Japanese P-1 maritime patrol aircraft — one of the most serious crises in postwar Japan-South Korea defense relations. Ties began recovering after defense ministers agreed on recurrence-prevention measures at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue, and SAREX resumption was formally confirmed at a Yokosuka ministerial meeting in January 2026.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi welcomed the outcome on social media, calling it “the beginning of a new chapter” in bilateral defense cooperation.
Beyond the political symbolism, the inclusion of LINKEX and cross-deck operations reflects a renewed focus on interoperability. These activities enhance tactical information sharing and operational coordination applicable to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and broader maritime security missions.
The exercise comes amid a shifting regional environment shaped by North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, China’s growing naval presence, and uncertainty over future U.S. alliance commitments. Neither government has linked the drill directly to China, but regional pressures have clearly strengthened incentives for closer coordination.
Challenges remain. ACSA negotiations have yet to advance, and historical sensitivities continue to constrain deeper cooperation. Nevertheless, SAREX resumption marks a meaningful step toward rebuilding practical naval engagement between two key U.S. allies in Northeast Asia. Koizumi is expected to visit Seoul later this month for further talks on bilateral and trilateral defense cooperation.
