2018 Japan–South Korea radar lock-on dispute

According to the Japanese government,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/22a.html|title=Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft|publisher=Ministry of Defense|date=21 December 2018|access-date=25 January 2019|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411183657/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/22a.html|url-status=dead}} a South Korean naval destroyer, ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great,{{Cite web|url=https://navaltoday.com/2018/12/28/japan-releases-footage-of-south-korean-destroyers-radar-lock-on-on-jmsdf-patrol-plane/|title=Japan releases footage of South Korean destroyer's radar lock-on on JMSDF patrol plane|website=Naval Today.com|date=28 December 2018|access-date=25 January 2019}} directed its STIR-180 fire-control radar at a maritime patrol aircraft, Kawasaki P-1 belonging to the Fleet Air Wing 4 of JMSDF, which was conducting surveillance off the Noto Peninsula in the Sea of Japan on Thursday 20 December 2018 at around 3:00 p.m. (JST).{{cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-japan-defence-southkorea/japan-accuses-south-korea-of-extremely-dangerous-radar-lock-on-plane-idUKKCN1OK11T|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221150449/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-japan-defence-southkorea/japan-accuses-south-korea-of-extremely-dangerous-radar-lock-on-plane-idUKKCN1OK11T|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2018|title=Japan accuses South Korea of 'extremely dangerous' radar lock on plane|last1=Kajimoto|first1=Tetsushi|last2=Shin|first2=Hyonhee|date=21 December 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=25 January 2019}} According to Japan's Ministry of Defense (MOD), aiming the fire-control (FC) radar at a plane is a violation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES),{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/23a.html|title=Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft|publisher=Ministry of Defense|date=22 December 2018|access-date=10 January 2019|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411193054/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/23a.html|url-status=dead}} as a lock with the FC radar is generally considered a hostile act one step before actual firing. The MOD further said the irradiation of the P-1 plane by the radar hit multiple times continuously over a certain period.

In contrast, the South Korean government denied Japan's claims, stating that it was not operating a STIR-180 radar (FC radar) but MW08 radar for the rescue when the Japanese airplane arrived at the site. The MW08 radar is a 3D radar for medium-range air and surface surveillance, target acquisition and tracking, capable of gun control against surface targets.{{Cite report|url=https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=994|author=Forecast International|title=Radar Forecast -MW08|date=May 2013|format=PDF}} MW08 can be used as an FC radar, but it is not connected with the fire-control system in the destroyer.{{Cite web|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=081&aid=0002086997|title=[기획 한국군 무기 37] 해군 최초의 '방공구축함' 광개토대왕급|date=2010-05-31}}{{Cite web|url=http://mbn.mk.co.kr/pages/news/newsView.php?news_seq_no=3719656|title=한국-일본, '초계기 레이더 조준' 진실공방 격화|date=2019-01-02|website=mbn.mk.co.kr|language=ko|access-date=2019-01-22}} In addition, South Korea claimed that the Japanese aircraft made a threatening "8-shape" flight continuously at a distance of {{convert|500|m|ft|sp=us}} and altitude of {{convert|150|m|ft|sp=us}} while the warship was participating in the rescue of a distressed North Korean fishing boat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.segye.com/view/20190105000385|title=일본 레이더 공세에 軍 영상 맞불…대치 심화되나 [박수찬의 軍]|date=2019-01-05|website=일본 레이더 공세에 軍 영상 맞불…대치 심화되나 [박수찬의 軍]|language=ko|access-date=2019-01-22}}

File:2009년5월15일 해군 1함대훈련 (7193824738).jpg

File:JMSDF P-1 (9).jpg

File:Korea Coast Guard vessel 5001 Sambongho.jpg

• On 20 December, a fishing vessel sent out a distress signal. The South Korean coast guard and South Korean navy deployed rescue ships. The North Korean fishing boat was a small wooden boat that weighed less than 1 ton with four or five North Koreans at the time of the rescue. It was reported that one or two of the North Koreans had already died at the time of the rescue. The Korea Coast Guard and South Korean navy operated a radar to assist in the rescue.{{Cite news|last1=윤|first1=상호|last2=서|first2=영아|date=22 Dec 2018|title=[단독]해군, 동해 표류 北어선 구조… 日 "韓 레이더, 우리 초계기 조준"|trans-title=[Exclusive] Navy rescues North Korean fishing vessels drifting in the East Sea... Japan "Korean radar aims at our patrol aircraft"|work=The Dong-a Ilbo|url=https://www.donga.com/news/Politics/article/all/20181221/93410051/1|access-date=7 Mar 2021}} The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) claimed a Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft from Fleet Air Wing 4 of the JMSDF was irradiated several times for a few minutes by a destroyer of the Republic of Korea Navy with a FCR. The incident occurred off the Noto Peninsula within a joint fishing zone of the two countries,{{Cite web|url=http://news.donga.com/3/all/20181229/93486073/1|title=광개토대왕함 사건은 일본의 기획도발?|date=2018-12-29|website=The Dong-a Ilbo|language=ko|access-date=2019-01-22}} surrounded by Japan's exclusive economic zone,{{Cite web|url=http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez/390?chart=catch-chart&dimension=taxon&measure=tonnage&limit=10|title = Sea Around Us | Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity}}{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/01/japan-and-south-koreas-unnecessary-squabble/|title=Japan and South Korea's Unnecessary Squabble|date=12 January 2019|website=thediplomat.com|language=en|access-date=23 January 2019}} away from the disputed Liancourt Rocks. After receiving the radiation, the P-1 patrol aircraft tried repeatedly to contact the other party by radio to ascertain their intentions, but got no response from the South Korean naval ship. According to South Korea, the audio communication the Japanese P-1 patrol aircraft attempted to transmit contained severe static and thus the South Korean warship could not discern the message.{{Cite news|last=김|first=귀근|date=28 Dec 2018|title=레이더사건 진실은?…빔 쐈는지, 위협비행했는지 놓고 韓日 팽팽|work=Yonhap News Agency|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20181228156200503|access-date=7 Mar 2021}}
• On 21 December, the Japanese Minister of Defense, Takeshi Iwaya, held a press conference to clarify the facts of the incident. While he told the reporters that the intention of the South Korean side was not clearly understood, he criticized the incident as an extremely dangerous action.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/22a.html|title=Press Release: Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft|date=2018-12-21|website=www.mod.go.jp|publisher=Japan Ministry of Defense|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411183657/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/22a.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Japan accuses South Korea of 'extremely dangerous' radar lock on plane|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/japan-defence-southkorea/japan-accuses-south-korea-of-extremely-dangerous-radar-lock-on-plane-idINKCN1OK124/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221150948/https://in.reuters.com/article/japan-defence-southkorea/japan-accuses-south-korea-of-extremely-dangerous-radar-lock-on-plane-idINKCN1OK124|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2018|work=Reuters|date=21 December 2018|access-date=31 December 2018}}
• On 22 December, the Japanese MOD conducted a careful and detailed analysis of the incident, and concluded that the irradiation was from STIR-180, which is unsuitable for broad searches.{{cite web|title=Types of Radars and its Characteristics|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/28z_1_en.pdf|work=Ministry of Defense (Japan)|date=28 December 2018|access-date=30 December 2018|archive-date=30 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181404/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/28z_1_en.pdf|url-status=dead}} Accordingly, the MOD stated that irradiation with an FCR was a very dangerous action that could lead to unexpected contingencies. Even though it had been searching for a ship in distress, it greatly endangered other ships and aircraft in the vicinity. The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), which both Japan and South Korea have adopted, suggests avoiding any radar irradiation from an FCR to aim at ships and aircraft. For these reasons, Japan strongly requested South Korea prevent any recurrence of the incident.
• On 22 December, South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced that they did not use the FCR (STIR-180) but it was operating an MW08 radar with the surveillance and tracking functions. The South Korean MND also claimed that there was no intent to aim it at the Japanese aircraft.{{cite news|title=South Korea denies warship locked FCR on Japanese plane|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/south-korea-japan-warship-patrol-plane-lock-target-navy-a8698291.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/south-korea-japan-warship-patrol-plane-lock-target-navy-a8698291.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=Independent|date=25 December 2018|accessdate=31 December 2018}}{{cbignore}}
• On 23 December, the South Korean MND argued that it had already explained its position to Japan and would strive harder to ensure that there would not be any "misunderstanding".{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181223000156&ACE_SEARCH=1|title=Korea's military rejects claim of targeting Japanese patrol aircraft|date=23 December 2018|newspaper=The Korea Herald}}
• On 23 December, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tarō Kōno, withheld any direct criticism, and announced that he would like to ask the South Korean government to respond to the incident in order to prevent relations between Japan and South Korea deteriorating.
• On 24 December, the Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenji Kanasugi, visited the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express Japan's strong regret and make a request for the prevention of the recurrence of this kind of incident. The South Korean government continuously denied the usage of STIR-180 while admitting the usage of MW08 for the rescue.{{Cite web|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=025&aid=0002873587|title = 네이버 뉴스}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=228851|title=한국을 대표하는 글로벌 방송! The World on Arirang!|access-date=5 January 2019|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105200851/http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=228851|url-status=dead}} After a statement of the South Korean government, Takeshi Iwaya pointed out at a press conference that the South Korean government had some misunderstandings about the incident, and published a statement by the Japanese MOD that the maritime patrol aircraft had been repeatedly irradiated with electromagnetic waves characteristic of a FCR continuously for certain periods.{{cite news|last=Panda|first=Ankit|title=Japan, South Korea in Row Over Alleged Radar-Lock Incident|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/japan-south-korea-in-row-over-alleged-radar-lock-incident/|work=The Diplomat|accessdate=30 December 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/25a.html|title=Press Release: Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft|date=2018-12-25|website=www.mod.go.jp|publisher=Japan Ministry of Defense|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411192055/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/25a.html|url-status=dead}}
• On 26 December, a member of the South Korean minor progressive Justice Party accused the Japanese government, particularly the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of "trying to antagonize South Korea by making up the allegation that the radar was pointed at the patrol plane."{{cite news|title=김종대 의원 "일본 극우층이 한국에 의식적으로 도발"|trans-title=National Assembly Member Kim Jong-Dae, "Japan's LDP Party Convicts Korea"|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002499287|language=ko|work=Chungcheong Today|accessdate=30 December 2018}}
• On 27 December, Japan and South Korea held working-level teleconference over this issue between Mr. Hidehiro Ikematsu (Joint Staff Principal Councilor of the Japanese MOD) and Major General Kim Jeong-yoo (Operations Director of the South Korean JCS), etc.{{Cite report|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/27a.html|title=Announcement of Japan-Republic of Korea Working-Level Meeting|date=27 December 2018|author=Ministry of Defense|access-date=2 July 2021|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411191159/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/27a.html|url-status=dead}} According to the informed sources of the South Korean military, Both JMSDF and ROKN proposed to bring data received by Japanese aircraft and information on radar equipped by South Korean destroyers, but they failed to meet an agreement due to security problem.{{Cite news|author=Moonkwan Kim|title=Japan denied to reveal ESM recorder|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/12/29/2018122900919.html|date= 29 December 2018|newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo|language=Korean}}{{Cite news|author=Makino Yoshihiro|title=Republic of Korea refuses to provide data Evidence of radar irradiation|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM1854TYM18UHBI01Q.html|date=8 January 2019|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|language=Japanese}} According to the release of the South Korean MND, the defense authorities of the two nations "exchanged opinions regarding the truth and technical analysis to remove misunderstandings.", and agreed "to continue consultations on the matter. In case the two sides fail to settle the conflict through working-level talks, higher-level meetings could be held later"{{cite news|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20181227008700320|title=S. Korea, Japan hold talks over radar strife|newspaper=Yonhapnews}}
• On 28 December, the Japanese MOD released a video taken by the maritime patrol aircraft during the incident.{{Cite web|title=Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its FCR at an MSDF patrol aircraft|publisher=Ministry of Defense|date=28 December 2018|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/28z.html|accessdate=3 January 2019|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231044047/http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/release/2018/12/28z.html|url-status=dead}} The video shows that a crewmember asked the destroyer in English several times via three frequencies (international VHF [156.8 MHz] and emergency frequencies 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz) about the FC antenna directed at the P-1, but the destroyer stayed silent. The video also shows the gray destroyer sailing near a pair of rubber boats and a North Korean vessel.{{cite news|title=Japan shows video of alleged radar lock-on by SKorea warship|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-shows-video-of-alleged-radar-lock-on-by-skorea-warship/2018/12/28/d3d76a98-0a7f-11e9-8942-0ef442e59094_story.html?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=28 December 2018|accessdate=31 December 2018}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Sankei Shimbun reported that Japanese Prime Minister Abe had directed Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya to release the video publicly, though the Defense Minister was reluctant to release the video, worrying about a possible backlash from South Korea.{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/01/356_261195.html|title=Video release represents Abe's political intention|date=30 December 2018|newspaper=The Korea Times}} The South Korean MND expressed deep concerns and regrets over Japan's release of video footage related to an ongoing military radar spat just one day after two governments started a "working level conference" on 27 December, and accused Tokyo of releasing "inaccurate" facts.{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181228000637&ACE_SEARCH=1|title=Korea voices 'deep concern, regrets' about Japan's footage release amid radar spat|date=28 December 2018|newspaper=The Korea Herald}} The South Korean MND argued that "The video material released by Japan contains only footage of the Japanese patrol plane circling above the surface of the sea and the (audio) conversation between the pilots and it cannot by common sense be regarded as objective evidence supporting the Japanese claims. There's no change to the fact that our military did not operate tracking radar on a Japanese patrol plane."

• On 2 January, the South Korean MND released a statement demanding an apology from Japan that the P-1 patrol aircraft was flying dangerously low over their naval destroyer.{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/02/national/south-korea-demands-apology-japan-flight-navy-warship/#.XC3TbBpcWf0|title=South Korea demands apology from Japan for flight over navy warship|newspaper=The Japan Times|date=2 January 2019|accessdate=3 January 2019}}
• On 4 January, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha agreed over a phone conference to resolve the issue through "consultations between their military authorities".{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190104000598|title=Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan agree to pursue future-oriented ties amid radar spat|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=3 January 2019}} The South Korean MND released a video criticizing Japan for the low flying altitude of the maritime patrol aircraft. The video also claimed that the South Korean destroyer did not illuminate any tracking radar. The video mainly consists of the materials released by the Japanese MOD a week before.
• On 8 January, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya repeatedly commented that Japan would be able to exchange radar wave records with the South Korean military to deepen discussion with South Korea.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/01/09/national/japan-ready-exchange-radar-records-south-korea-maritime-lock-incident/#.XDXRTdIzaUk|title=Japan ready to exchange radar records with South Korea over maritime lock-on incident|newspaper=The Japan Times|date=9 January 2019}}
• On 14 January, Japan and South Korea held a conference at Singapore. At this conference, some of misunderstandings were explained like the communication, later found that the communication personnel in the destroyer had misheard the radio communication. Both countries suggested to analyze recorded data together, but they did not reach an agreement on major issues: about the usage of the radar and the threatening flight. The radar problem couldn't be resolved; the dissatisfaction of Japanese side about the radar was that Japan was asked to present the record of the RWR record first, not exchanging the records of both countries at the same time to avoid forgery, and the discontent of Korean side was that the Japan will show only a part of the P-1's record, excluding received frequencies,{{Cite news|url=http://www.fnnews.com/news/201901161756325342|title=Extended conflict between Japan and S.Korea|newspaper=Financial news|date=16 January 2019|language=Korean}} while the South Korean side was asked to disclose entire radars' specification and frequencies of the destroyer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190115082000503?input=1195m|title = 국방부 "日, 광개토함 전체 레이더정보 요구…대단히 무례"|date = 15 January 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=142256|title=S. Korea, Japan Fail to Narrow Differences on Radar Incident|website=world.kbs.co.kr|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190115_06/|title=Japan, S.Korea remain split over radar incident|date=2019-01-15|website=NHK WORLD|publisher=NHK|language=en|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115011213/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190115_06/|archive-date=15 January 2019|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM1H3Q2SM1HUHBI01N.html|title=Korea "Japan is rude and non-gentleman" conflict in negotiations over radar issues|newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun|author1=Makino Yoshihiro|author2=Shinichi Fuziwara|language=Japanese|date=15 January 2019}} About the matter of the threatening flight, Japan claimed "the MSDF P-1 maintained (even at its closet flight) a sufficiently safe altitude (approx.150m) and distance (approx. 500m) from the ROK destroyer" and requested South Korea for the objective evidence to support their claim, but South Korea had failed to provide such evidence and had repeatedly responded “if the subject of the threat feels threatened, it is then a threat," {{Cite report|author=MoD|title=MOD's final statement regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft|date=21 January 2019|url=https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2019/01/21x_1_e.pdf|accessdate=21 January 2019|archive-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121101048/http://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2019/01/21x_1_e.pdf|url-status=dead}} while the South Korean MND claimed that "safe altitude (approx.150m) and distance (approx. 500m)" is based on ICAO applying to civil flight, not a flight made by a government. They also claimed that when flights with altitude and distance admitted by Japanese were made to Japanese ship, JMSDF would also protest. Although Japanese MOD replied that they would not protest against it,{{Cite news|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM1J4V62M1JUHBI023.html|title=South Korea "If Japan fly low-flying we also" radar irradiation problem|newspaper=The Asahi Shimbun|author=Makino Yoshihiro|date=16 January 2019|language=Japanese}} Japan did not acknowledge it as an official statement when South Korean representatives asked whether they can declare it internationally.{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190116086252503?section=search|title=No resolution on the Radar spat|date=2019-01-16|newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |access-date=2019-01-22}} Both Japan and South Korea promised to hold further negotiations.
• On 21 January, Japanese MOD released the final statement regarding this incident including the location-relationship-diagram and the sound file of the radar reception (also known as RWR records). Japanese MOD also pointed out that this sound file evidence (RWR records) was rejected to be examined by the South Korean MND at the time of working-level consultations held on 14 January. After Japan's final statement, Choi hyon-su, official spokesperson of the South Korean MND, on the official regular briefing, stated "(from the sound records released on January 21) We couldn't interpret the sound records since we were not passed conversion logs for the records from Japan,{{Cite news|url=http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20190121000793|title=Extended radar spat...Japan: Disclosure of the sound file vs ROK: Japanese file is not provable|newspaper=Herold Economics|date=21 January 2019|language=Korean}}{{Cite report|url=http://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?command=view&page=1&boardId=O_205290&boardSeq=O_205383&titleId=null&siteId=mndEN&id=mndEN_020500000000|title=Statement of Korean MND regarding the incident about Japanese patrol plane|publisher=Korean Ministry of National Defense|date=22 January 2019|language=English|access-date=25 January 2019|archive-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125130948/http://www.mnd.go.kr/user/boardList.action?command=view&page=1&boardId=O_205290&boardSeq=O_205383&titleId=null&siteId=mndEN&id=mndEN_020500000000|url-status=dead}} and RWR reception record cannot exactly prove the usage of STIR-180 since various radars were used at the time, like Kelvin radar making similar frequencies, using I-band, in Sambongho, Korea Coast Guard's vessel, and MW08 that can be identified as FC radar, that could have confused P-1's ESM recorder."{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190121153000503?input=1195m|title=Japan revealed RWR record...continuous dispute between Japan and S.Korea|newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |date=21 January 2019|language=Korean}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201901212204005&code=910302|title=Entire story of the incident is on the log files|newspaper=Kyunghyang Shinmun|date=21 January 2019|language=Korean}} Japan declared there would be no more working-level consultations while the South Korean MND suggesting further joint investigations comparing each countries' data.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20190122005017&wlog_tag3=naver|title=Japan stopped negotiations. The South Korean MND expressed "Deep regret"|newspaper=Seoul News|date=22 January 2019|language=Korean}}

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| header = Fire-control Radar Detection Sound released by the Japan Ministry of Defense on January 21

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| image2 = Waveform of Fire-control Radar Detection Sound.png

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| caption2 = The waveform of Fire-control Radar Detection Sound released by the Japan Ministry of Defense on January 21 (parts of the sound were processed for information security). This waveform shows the Pulse repetition frequency is approximately 7kHz and Conical scanning frequency is approximately 100Hz. In this incident, AN/UPX-27K IFF, STIR-180, and MW08 can make this type of waveform.

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| header = Search Radar Detection Sound released by the Japan Ministry of Defense on January 21

| image1 = Search Radar Detection Sound.ogg

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| image2 = Waveform of Search Radar Detection Sound.png

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| caption2 = Waveform of Search Radar Detection Sound. This signal is clearly distinguished from Fire-control Radar signal. X-band and R-band radars equipped in the coast guard's vessel leave this type of waveform.

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• On 22 January, the South Korean MND released the formal statement summarizing their previous arguments explaining issues about the radar and the flight. The South Korean MND stated "The fundamental nature of this issue is the JMSDF patrol aircraft's threatening low-altitude flight towards the ROK Navy vessel that had been conducting a humanitarian rescue operation. ... We express our deepest regrets to Japan for discontinuing the working-level meetings without providing any decisive evidence. Along with the solid ROK-US Combined Defense Posture, our government will continue its efforts to strengthen security cooperation between the ROK and Japan despite the current incident."
• On 23 January, according to the South Korean MND, a Japanese patrol aircraft flew at an altitude of {{convert|200-230|ft|m}} within {{convert|1800|ft|m}} of a South Korean naval vessel on the afternoon of 23 January off Socotra Rock (Iŏdo) in the Yellow Sea, which lies some {{convert|100|mi|km}} southeast of the South Korean island, Jeju.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2019/01/24/accusations-fly-between-south-korea-and-japan-over-threatening-aircraft-maneuvers-radar-targeting/|title = Accusations fly between South Korea and Japan over 'threatening' maritime maneuvers|date = 24 January 2019}} The South Korean military called this action a "clear provocation" that "if such activity repeats again, our military will respond strongly based on our response rules." The Japanese Defense Minister denied the allegation, saying "the altitude of the Japanese aircraft claimed by Korea, {{convert|200-230|ft|m}}, is not accurate, we are properly recording our flight. The Japanese aircraft was flying higher than altitude of 150 meters, following the international and domestic law.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2019 |title= |script-title=ja:P3C、「高度150メートル以上を確保」＝岩屋防衛相の会見要旨 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019012301335&g=soc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130162130/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019012301335&g=soc |archive-date=30 January 2019 |access-date=30 January 2019 |work=Jiji Press}} Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga encouraged better communication between the military forces of the two countries.{{cite news|title=Seoul accuses Japanese patrol plane of threatening flight|last=Tong-Hyung|first=Kim|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/seoul-accuses-japanese-patrol-plane-of-threatening-flight/2019/01/23/9fc1c39c-1ee4-11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124050603/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/seoul-accuses-japanese-patrol-plane-of-threatening-flight/2019/01/23/9fc1c39c-1ee4-11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=23 January 2019|accessdate=25 January 2019}}
• On 24 January, the South Korean MND released 5 pictures taken by a camcorder and a thermal camera connected with a radar in the destroyer with recorded height and distance of the patrol plane. The South Korean MND explained that it detected the exact altitude and distance using a maritime surveillance radar.{{Cite web|url=https://news.v.daum.net/v/20190124170048215|title=軍, 日 초계기 위협비행 사진 공개.."기계는 거짓말 안 해"}}{{Cite news|url=http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2019/nwdesk/article/5133539_24634.html?xtr_cate=LK&xtr_ref=r8&xtr_kw=N&xtr_area=k17&xtr_cp=c5|title="machines never lie"...The pictures show show the red circle on the plane|newspaper=MBC News|date=24 January 2019|language=Korean}} Japan stated that (regarding the photo with Japanese patrol aircraft P3C) it does not prove the altitude of the aircraft since the surface of the sea is not included in the picture.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sankei.com/world/news/190124/wor1901240039-n1.html|title=S. Korean MND released images of JSDF's "threatening flight"|newspaper=Sankei Shimbun News|date=24 January 2019|language=Japanese}}
• On 25 January, the spokesperson of the South Korean MND, Choi hyon-su stated, "If Japan cannot trust our radar data that we revealed in yesterday, Japan should suggest more reliable evidence."{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190125067800503?input=1195m|title=MND requested more relible evidence from Japan|date=25 January 2019|newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |language=Korean}} Japan stated "We have no reason or intention to threaten Korea's destroyer. If the two approaches, our patrol aircraft is not armed and the other is the destroyer, the unarmed will feel more threatened"{{Cite news|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190125083800073?input=1195m|title=Japan,"We are not going to reveal the data"|newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |language=Korean|date=25 January 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_politics/articles/000146054.html|title=The threatened is our patrol plane|newspaper=TV Asahi|date=25 January 2019|language=Japanese}}
• On 27 January, the South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo declared, "If we judge that Japan performed a provocative act again, we will respond strongly based on our domestic law," suggesting the use of weapons.{{Cite news|title="日 추가 도발 시 강력 대응"…軍, 무기 가동 검토|date=27 January 2019|newspaper=MBC news|language=Korean}}
• In February 2019, the ROKN was issued specific "Guidelines for responding to Japanese patrol planes", supplementing a set of more general "Guidelines for responding to aircraft from third countries" that had been adopted in January. The generic rules of engagement compiled by the South Korean military establishment had stipulated a four-step process in which aircraft that fly too close to an ROKN vessel are to be identified and then issued two successively harsher warnings by radio. However, the Blue House insisted on stronger measures specifically for Japanese planes, adding a fifth step in which aircraft that ignore the warnings are to be illuminated with fire-control radar. This caused consternation within the South Korean military, as it delegates too much authority and increases the risk of military conflict by leaving the decision to take potentially escalatory actions to the discretion of field commanders. Furthermore, it created a paradoxical situation, prescribing more severe measures against Japanese aircraft than those of Russia and China, countries that have previously violated South Korean airspace and made incursions into its air defense identification zone respectively.{{cite news|last1=이|first1=철재|title=[단독] 문정부 "일본 초계기에 추적레이더 쏴라"…사실상 교전 지침|trans-title=[Exclusive] Moon administration: “Direct tracking radar at Japanese patrol planes” — de facto engagement guidelines|url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25095132|access-date=17 June 2024|work=JoongAng Ilbo|date=18 August 2022|language=ko}}{{cite news|last1=Suzuki|first1=Takuya|last2=Matsuyama|first2=Naoki|title=Seoul drafted radar guidelines in 2019 targeting only SDF aircraft|url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14698626|access-date=17 June 2024|work=Asahi Shimbun|date=19 August 2022}}
• On 1 June, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed his decision to end talks about the dispute to the South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo. While both defense ministers could not reach a conclusion together, both have pledged to make to efforts to improve relations between the two countries.{{Cite news|last=Tachikawa|first=Tomoyuki|date=1 June 2019|title=Japan hints at ending talks about radar lock-on issue with S. Korea|work=Kyodo News|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/06/870ce1b3783c-japanese-s-korean-defense-chiefs-meet-in-singapore-amid-strains.html|access-date=12 May 2020}}

On 17 November 2022, the ROK Navy claimed that it had not irradiated radar.{{cite web |url=https://jp.yna.co.kr/view/AJP20221117002100882 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117050447/https://jp.yna.co.kr/view/AJP20221117002100882 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-11-17 |script-title=ja:韓国国防部 海自哨戒機への「レーダー照射はなかった」 |language=Japanese |newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |date=17 November 2022}}

On 4 June 2023, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup held talks as part of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore and agreed to accelerate working-level discussions to resolve the radar dispute, with a focus on outlining "steps to prevent a recurrence".{{cite news |title=Japan, South Korea to speed up talks over pending military issues |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/japan-south-korea-speed-up-talks-over-pending-military-issues-2023-06-04/ |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Reuters |date=4 June 2023}}

On 2 June 2024, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik met on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue and agreed to normalize relations between their respective militaries and resume defense cooperation and exchanges. Characterizing the radar lock-on dispute as an obstacle to security cooperation between Japan and South Korea, as well as tripartite cooperation with the United States, the two countries released a document detailing measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident. In the document, the JMSDF and the South Korean navy undertook to comply with the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, and agreed to improve communications and build trust. No mention was made regarding the exact chain of events in the 2018 incident, effectively putting the matter to rest.{{cite news |last1=Kobara |first1=Junnosuke |title=Japan, South Korea move past radar row to improve defense ties |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-South-Korea-move-past-radar-row-to-improve-defense-ties |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Nikkei Asia |date=2 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Tajima |first1=Nobuhiko |title=Japan, S. Korea shelve row over ‘radar lock-on’ for better ties |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15290197 |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=Asahi Shimbun |date=2 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Tamura |first1=Naohiro |last2=Koike |first2=Kazuki |title=Japan, South Korea to Resume Defense Exchanges After Agreeing to Measures to Prevent Repeat of 2018 Radar Incident |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20240602-189608/ |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=The Japan News |publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun |date=2 June 2024 |language=en}}

Toshio Tamogami, a retired general and ex–chief of staff of the JASDF, has given his views on Twitter denying the offensiveness of aiming FC radar.{{Cite news |date=27 December 2018 |title= |script-title=ja:田母神氏投稿で物議 韓国照射"火器管制レーダー"の安全性 |language=Japanese |trans-title=Mr. Tamogami's controversial tweets and the safety of the FCR irradiated by South Korea |newspaper=Nikkan Gendai |url=https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/news/244441 |accessdate=8 January 2019}} However, Toshiyuki Ito, a retired JMSDF admiral and ex-commandant of the Joint Staff College, rebutted Tamogami's view since the former had been retired for ten years and has no experience as a pilot.{{Cite news |date=7 January 2019 |title= |script-title=ja:レーダー照射は「危険ではない」元海将が田母神俊雄氏の発言を全否定 |language=Japanese |trans-title=Former admiral refuted Mr. Tamogami's statement about the risk of Korean radar irradiation |newspaper=Tokyo Sports |url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/15838235/}}

The South Korean government claimed this flight of P-1 was menacing and unfriendly to the warship of a neighboring country which was operating a rescue mission in the high seas. According to the South Korean government, it was Japan and not South Korea that acted improperly in this incident and should apologize.{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190102000732&ACE_SEARCH=1|title=Korea continues to demand Japan's apology over radar row|date=2 January 2019|newspaper=The Korea Herald}} However, Paul Giarra, a retired U.S. naval aviator and ex-senior Country Director for Japan in the Office of the ASD (ISA), pointed it out that there was absolutely no danger in the actions of the Japanese aircraft.{{cite news |url=https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_politics/articles/000144490.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203004826/https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_politics/articles/000144490.html |url-status=dead |date=5 January 2019|archive-date=3 February 2019 |language=ja |title="No dangerous movement on the Japanese side" US experts analyzed videos |newspaper=TV Asahi}}

Some South Korean media were concerned about the friction between Seoul and Tokyo. On 7 January 2019, a JoongAng Daily editorial argued that the two governments "should join forces to address the nuclear threats from North Korea and other urgent issues" and that "This emotional fighting does not help. Though what really happened at the moment has not yet been found, either side did not suffer substantial damage. Therefore, if [the South] Korean destroyer really aimed its FCR at the approaching airplane, our military authorities should apologize to Japan and wrap up the case. If the Japanese aircraft was really confused about the radar signal, it should apologize", and that "[i]t is time to take a deep breath and find a reasonable solution".{{Cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3057804|title=Time to end this spat with Japan (KOR)|newspaper=JoongAngDaily|date=7 January 2019}}

While there is no international law regulating the altitude of military flights, Japan, the U.S. military, and NATO assert they follow the custom of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to keep a distance of {{Convert|150 |m|ft|sp=us}} from vessels under normal operations.{{Cite news |date=24 January 2019 |title= |script-title=ja:韓国国防省、写真5枚を公開「威嚇飛行」 日本は否定 |language=ja |newspaper=Asahi Press |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM1S4T7NM1SUHBI01G.html}}

{{Portal|Japan}}

• {{ill|2013 Chinese naval radar lock-on incident|ja|中国海軍レーダー照射事件}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikisourcelang|ja|韓国海軍艦艇による火器管制レーダー照射事案について (平成30年12月28日)全文|Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft (28 December 2018)}}

• [https://www.mod.go.jp/en/d_act/radar/final.html Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft]（Japan Ministry of Defense）
• {{YouTube|s93-l68D3Eo|Regarding the incident of an ROK naval vessel directing its FC radar at an MSDF patrol aircraft}}
• {{YouTube|CGWO4Kdk5j0|Urging Japan to Apologize for Patrol Operations in the Rescue Operations Area}}

{{2018 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 Japan-South Korea radar lock-on dispute}}

Category:2018 in Japan

Category:2018 in South Korea

Category:Accidents and incidents involving military aircraft

Category:Japan–South Korea military relations

Category:Maritime incidents in 2018

Category:International maritime incidents

Category:Maritime incidents in Japan

Category:Maritime incidents in South Korea

Category:Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Category:Naval history of South Korea

Category:Naval history of Japan