TOKYO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th September, 2018) Seoul urges Tokyo to abandon the use of Rising Sun Flag, adopted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and viewed by South Korea as a symbol of Japanese militarism, during the International Fleet Review, local media reported, citing a South Korean Navy official.
The International Fleet Review with the participation of vessels from 15 countries will be held near the South Korean island of Jeju on October 10-14.
"We'll continue to speak with Japan regarding this matter ... Our Navy has a separate communication channel with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and we'll continue to let them know where we stand," the official said, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier in the week, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera sharply criticized Seoul's call for Tokyo to refrain from displaying the Rising Sun Flag during the international event. The Japanese defense minister stressed that the ships belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force were obliged to raise this flag under the country's law.
The South Korean side left Onodera's statements without official response. It has not been specified so far if Tokyo's refusal to follow Seoul's request might affect the country's participation in the event.
The Rising Sun Flag used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force represents a red solar disk with 16 rays on a white background. It resembles the flag of Imperial Japan and therefore is associated with Japanese militarism.
