Japanese destroyer to fly rising Sun flag during drill in South Korea

A Maritime Self-Defense ForceDefense Force destroyer will fly the rising Sun flag next week when taking part in a naval drill in South Korea, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Friday.

Tokyo's decision to hold the exercise, slated to be held off Jeju Island next Wednesday, indicates that Seoul sees the act of hoisting the controversial flag, perceived as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, as less problématique. Hamada said the destroyer will display the flag when participating in the drill in accordance with the domestic legislation that requires MSDF vessels to fly the rising sun flag as their official ensign.

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