Tuesday, October 1, 2019

South Korean Fighter Jets Fly Over Islands Claimed By Japan

Reuters: South Korean fighter jets fly patrol over islands disputed by Japan

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean fighter jets flew a patrol on Tuesday over islands at the center of a dispute with Japan, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said at an event marking the founding of his country’s military, drawing an angry Japanese protest.

South Korea showcased newly acquired F-35 stealth fighter jets to mark its Armed Forces Day as Moon tried to allay concerns that his policy of engagement with neighboring North Korea would weaken the South’s commitment to defense.

He said the F-15K jets patrolled over the disputed islets called Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, which are controlled by Seoul but claimed by both, risking inflaming strained ties between the neighbors.

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Update #1: South Korean fighter jets patrol over islands disputed by Japan (Al Jazeera)
Update #2: S.Korean fighter jet flies over Takeshima Islands (NHK)
Update #3: Factbox: Disputed isles at center of feud between Japan, South Korea (Reuters)

WNU Editor: Like many maritime border disputes in Asia, they are basically fighting over a pile of rocks.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's so silly. South Koreans and Japanese should work closer together to confront the real threat: Hint, it's not a pile of rocks between your two countries. It's somewhere else ;)

Anonymous said...

Japan is more strategic to the USA than South Korea as Japan engages in many joint defense R&D programs with the USA and hosts the USN, Marines and Army. Not to mention Japan's economy is much bigger. Plus I think its obvious Trump wants to withdraw US forces from South Korea, after all they are sitting ducks under Chinese and North Korean guns and missiles.