South Korea’s Navy has reportedly informed Japan that it will postpone the joint search-and-rescue exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force originally scheduled for later this month.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun reported the news on Monday, citing officials from both governments.

Japanese government sources told the daily newspaper that the joint exercise, conducted ten times between 1999 and 2017 and halted after a maritime spat over Japanese patrol aircraft in December 2018, is scheduled to resume and has been regarded as a symbol of strengthened cooperation.

The decision to put the exercise on hold appears linked to Japan’s refusal to provide critical refueling support for South Korea’s Black Eagles early this month in response to its training session near Dokdo. 

Without such support, the team was forced to withdraw from the prestigious Dubai Airshow. 

South Korea had already informed Japan that its military band would not participate in the Self-Defense Forces’ music festival.