South Korea releases images of ‘threatening close-distance flight' by Japanese MPA

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) released five images on 24 January to support its claim that a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) conducted a “threatening close-distance flight” near a Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) destroyer the previous day. The incident occurred near Ieodo, an underwater rock formation also known as Socotra Rock located in the Yellow Sea (West Sea).

South Korea's MND released a screengrab from footage captured from a RoKN destroyer on 23 January near Ieodo in the Yellow Sea (West Sea) showing a Japanese P-3C flying near the warship at what Seoul described as a “threatening” low altitude. (South Korean MND)

One of the images released by the MND appears to have been taken from a handheld camera aboard KDX-2-class destroyer Dae Jo Yeong, while two others seem to have been captured with an infrared camera. The ministry also published two partially blurred images showing data indicating that an aircraft had been spotted flying at an altitude of 200 ft (60.96 m).

In a statement issued the previous day the MND had accused the MPA of flying within 540 m of the warship at an altitude of 60–70 m “despite having clearly identified the vessel”, adding that it considers the move to be “a clear act of provocation that cannot avoid a suspicion of malign intent”.

The ministry pointed out that this is the third time in January alone that the Japanese military has carried out low-altitude flights near RoKN vessels. JMSDF aircraft also flew close to KDX-3-class destroyer Yulgok Yi I on 18 January, and to Cheonwangbong (LST-2)-class tank landing ship Nojeokbong on 22 January, according to the Yonhap News Agency.