Overview
- Japan’s defense minister said cooperation with South Korea and with the United States remains vital despite a pause in this month’s planned JMSDF–ROKN training.
- Search-and-rescue drills slated for this month were put on hold after Seoul informed Tokyo it would not proceed within the month, according to Japanese officials cited by Jiji Press.
- Japan suspended aerial refuelling for South Korean Air Force aircraft at a JASDF base after flights were identified near the Takeshima/Dokdo area.
- South Korea did not send its military band to the Self-Defense Forces Music Festival in Tokyo this month, signaling a pause in cultural exchanges.
- Koizumi said both sides have maintained close, multi-level communication and expressed a desire to continue exchanges to maintain and strengthen coordination, while some Japanese officials view the drill delay as possible retaliation for the refuelling halt.