Seoul, Sept. 24 (Jiji Press)–The South Korean navy will not take part in a fleet review planned by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces for October after the Japanese side did not extend an invitation, South Korea’s National Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
   

The MSDF’s decision not to invite its South Korean counterpart to the review at Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, comes amid deteriorating Japan-South Korea ties.
   

The MSDF declined to take part in an international fleet review hosted by South Korea in October last year after Seoul requested Japanese ships not fly the “kyokujitsuki” rising sun flag.

The flag, which is the naval ensign of the MSDF, is regarded in South Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism.
   

In December that year, a South Korean warship allegedly directed its fire-control radar at an MSDF patrol plane, further escalating tensions between the two countries.