Japan's defense chief steps aboard visiting South Korean warship as the two nations strengthen ties

The SKorean crew of the ROKS Marado must have seen plenty of Rising Sun JMSDF ensigns coming into Yokosuka. I trust this silly non-issue issue is now over for good.

Actually the JS Shiranui visited the ROK Naval base at Cheju Island in November 2023 flying the JMSDF ensign which was ok'd by the ROK Navy.

Better together.

Strong Japanese and South Korean militaries, cooperating together, putting aside historical differences, has never been more important for the security of the region.

Make no mistake : at least three of their close neighbors despise the freedom and democracy that exists in SK and Japan.

Even more joint exercises going forward would be great to see.

There is a history of animosity between the countries, but their mutual survival may depend on mutual defense, especially now that the incompetent, corrupt felon is in the White House.

Great to see. Would've been unthinkable during Moon's disastrous tenure.

Hopefully this momentum can be sustained after Yoon leaves office in 2027, even if the DPK gets in and tries its usual, tired anti-Japan act.

(Cue a certain poster telling us that Lee Jae-myung's anointment is already a done deal, despite it being over two years away.)

Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship

Pity about the nationalistic name...

1glennToday 04:53 pm JST

their mutual survival may depend on mutual defense, especially now that the incompetent, corrupt felon is in the White House.

Yes, absolutely correct. Japan, SK, and the rest of the world will sadly be unable to rely on the US for at least the next four years.

Luckily, after the damage Trump did last time, everyone has been strengthening their relations amongst each other, independently of the US. Aside from SK, Japan has also improved cooperation with Australia, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and many other countries.

The Japanese Defense Minister boarded a Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship. Dokdo (독도), of course, is at the heart of Japanese-Korean territorial disputes. Quite the symbolism here.

Since the dawn of history, no country has ever sided with Korea, even the United States, and they have lost wars against Korea, so Korea is not a country that should be on your side, even as a joke lol

By the way, there are many defective weapons in the Korean military, and it is an unfortunate fact that military enthusiasts laugh at them.

All Korea should do is draw the Rhee Line, return Takeshima, which they seized by massacring Japanese fishermen, and continue to apologize and pay compensation until Japan, the victim, is satisfied.

hobnobNov. 8  09:27 pm JST

The Japanese Defense Minister boarded a Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship. Dokdo (독도), of course, is at the heart of Japanese-Korean territorial disputes. Quite the symbolism here.

Only to a SK nationalist. To most people it symbolizes only the advancing mutual strategic cooperation between two east Asian nations that share mutual adversaries.

Agent_NeoToday  01:43 am JST

Since the dawn of history, no country has ever sided with Korea, even the United States,

21 nations of the UN Command lead by the United States fought on South Korea's side against North Korea supported by China and Russia.

"Content correction"

The US sided with South Korea during the Korean War, but more than 50,000 people were killed in the war. The reason for this was that South Korean soldiers who were given American weapons quickly surrendered and turned those weapons against the US military.

In the Vietnam War, South Korea also sent troops for money, but they repeatedly committed acts of treason by committing acts of rape and massacres at the bases of the friendly South Vietnamese army.

The reality is that no country in history has ever been victorious with the South Korean military on their side.