A Japanese patrol aircraft has again conducted what Seoul is calling an "aggressive" low-altitude flight near a South Korean warship.
Although Seoul's Defense Ministry has slammed Tokyo for the latest incident, Japan insists the aircraft was merely conducting a regular mission.
Kan Hyeong-woo reports.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has strongly condemned a Japanese warplane's low-altitude flight near a South Korean warship,... calling it a 'provocative' act.

The Daejoyeong destroyer was on a regular mission near the nation's southernmost island of Ieodo on Wednesday,... when the Japanese P-3 maritime patrol aircraft approached the vessel.
It came as close as 540 meters to the ship at an altitude of 60 to 70 meters.
The Navy vessel sent multiple messages to the plane,... requesting it change its flight course as it was flying in a threatening manner.

"The fact that Japan has conducted another aggressive, low-altitude flight despite South Korea's clear requests that it prevent this from happening again... is an unambiguous provocation against a ship belonging to a military partner. Thus we cannot help but question Japan's intentions,... and we strongly condemn Japan's actions. Should this happen again, we will respond in line with our military's code of conduct."

Seoul's Defense Ministry called in the Japanese military attache on the same day to deliver a strong protest.

According to the South Korean military, Wednesday's low-altitude flyby was already the third time that a Japanese patrol aircraft has flown near a South Korean vessel in a threatening manner in January alone.
The previous incidents took place on the 18th and the 22nd.

But Tokyo denies Seoul's claims,... saying its plane was on a regular mission. Japan's Defense Ministry says the aircraft was not flying in a threatening manner and it was not at the low altitude South Korea claims.

The latest incident has further intensified the tension between the two nations.
Seoul and Tokyo have been locked in a month-long dispute over a South Korean warship's operation of radar for a humanitarian mission to rescue a North Korean vessel on December 20th.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News.