Officials vague on rumor Japanese support was refused for S Korean ferry

I hope it is really is not a case of misplaced pride and that needed help was refused based on such pride.

Park's inferiority complex showing in the purest, and most unfortunate form! Too arrogant and too proud of herself to accept help from those evil Japanese in time of disaster. After all it could bring voters against her! It's very sad that people had to die due to the politically-fueled arrogance.

****Well said, Spendor !

How can you refuse much needed help when people are trapped inside a sinking ship with little time? Its times like these that you really need to throw politics out the window and help out.

Park's inferiority complex showing in the purest, and most unfortunate form

They haven't even clarified if help was refused, much less who did the refusing.

yeah don't spread baseless rumors around

The Korean media is acting as if Japan never even offered to help. This whole thing is multiple facepalms worthy.

The US has been there to help, Japan can't do much anymore.

The group of support needed are not military or regular experienced diver. What is needed here is the highly trained deep penetration cave divers, a specialty group that can explore the dark unknown bowels of the ship with specialized equipment tailored for extreme danger. The U.S. military and the JSDF do not have this type of equipment, training or recent experience...............

Richard Segal

You must be kidding I don't know about the military but the Japanese coast guard divers nicknamed Umizaru train for this kind of situation and they were the ones that would have been sent if request had been made.

Something for consideration is that the ferry was designed and built in Japan. Call me crazy but I think Japan could actually help a great deal.

There is no doubt that JSDF are trained better, can do better and could have reduced the casualities. This is no time for thinking about diplomatic affairs. Human life should be above anything else. I bet the fact that Korean government turned down the offer of search support from the Japanese government won't be much broadcast...

Whoa, whoa, everyone. I know Internet Blog CSI is a popular crime tool, but there's way too much assuming going on here. We don't know what actually happened... not that has ever stopped anyone from overreacting.

In a disaster like this, Korean authority has been in a chaos, first, they have no time to think about whether JSDF can help or not, secondly, the co-ordination of rescue operation is a tough challenge.

I tend to think its true. Just about any disaster, we always hear that the government was too proud to accept outside help. You know why most people in the top of government wanted to be there? Excessive pride. Plus they are male. Even so much as asking for directions is a great shame for so many males. Accept help? But they might see your sunken ferry! How embarrassing!

This is a terrible human tragedy and we should keep the victims and their families in mind. It does no one any good to sling mud based on rumours at this time. It may be that the Korean coastguard response was appropriate. If the Korean people feel their government has reacted inappropriately to offers of help then that should be dealt with by them when the time comes (i.e. after all bodies have been recovered).

Well it wouldn't be the first time a nation refused help with tragic consequences. Soviet Union with the Kursk submarine disaster, and Japan with the JAL crash. In both cases there were documented survivors from the initial accident who died due to a delay in rescue

I hope this rumour is not true. If it is, shame on the Korean government.

Good crisis management is needed for such a crisis, but most political leaders and government officials don't have the proper training for crisis management, it is difficulty to establish a one for all system and procedures to deal with every crisis beforehand. When the crisis happens, It takes time for the government to find out the proper way for rescue, but it may be too late.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, appears to lack any tact or skill at managing international relations. The grief, anger and desperation is clearly visible, etched on the faces of hundreds of relatives. As events unfold, 248 people are still missing from the Sewol ferry, at least 200 bodies are still trapped inside the ferry, 350 of those on board were students, the recovery operation is expected to continue for at least another week, maybe longer.

RocketNews24........

During a press conference, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said that at a meeting between South Korea and Japan’s Coast Guard it was revealed that the Korean side refused assistance....................

Other Japanese officials had said that the South Korean Coast Guard replied, “We very much appreciate the offer, but currently, we have no special need for assistance.”

Soon this incendiary mix of utter grief, despair, and anger will be looking for a outlet, so Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga announcing or even implying that the 'Korean side refused assistance', could well inflame a already highly volatile situation, especially as parents know the missing students, loved ones will never be returning.

Reading the headline, 'Officials vague on rumour Japanese support was refused for S Korean ferry' is provocative, has strongly negative connotation, will evoke a emotional response.

Reports that up to 200 ships, 34 aircraft and 600 divers have been taking part in the search operation, the Korean Coast Guard made the call based on events unfolding, he saw no need for assistance at that time, a 'refusal' infers prejudice that would certainly have had an impact on the rescue operation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga should be wary that accusations of stirring politically motivated propaganda could be levelled at him, protesters are having to be restrained from marching on Seoul, the controversy surrounding this disaster could well have national political consequences harming the SK government.

Too arrogant and too proud of herself to accept help from those evil Japanese in time of disaster

The very evil Japanese who gave her father a military career which allowed him to rise in the ranks of Korean military and allow her daughter to make a name for herself in politics?

To hell with politics. Even before this story, I have complained to many friends and family about this situation. I know that Abe offered support. But to me, that's not enough. Too much pride going on in this world's politics. Somebody below said the US was present? I haven't seen anything on that. My thoughts are that Obama and Abe should have said to hell with politics and mobilized ships, divers, barges and whatever immediately. Not 24 hours later or even today but immediately. Gone to the perimeter and said to the world, here we are. We are not taking over, we are here to help. My God Obama and Abe, this is over 200 High School students from one school. And to think that Obama will be here in Japan this week with a smile on while sitting next to Abe. Where are their senses? I know that I don't know exactly what was said between Japan, S. Korea and the US. But what I do know is that there are hundreds of high school children out there and not a sign of the US or Japan there doing a damn thing. I am disgusted in both countries.

"South Korea Ferry Sinking: U.S. Navy Ship to Join Rescue Effort. " http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/south-korea-ferry-disaster/south-korea-ferry-sinking-u-s-navy-ship-join-rescue-n81606

If I had family on that ferry and found out the Korean government refused help, I'd want that government leader's head on a plate.

To hell with politics. Even before this story, I have complained to many friends and family about this situation. I know that Abe offered support. But to me, that's not enough. Too much pride going on in this world's politics. Somebody below said the US was present? I haven't seen anything on that. My thoughts are that Obama and Abe should have said to hell with politics and mobilized ships, divers, barges and whatever immediately. Not 24 hours later or even today but immediately. Gone to the perimeter and said to the world, here we are. We are not taking over, we are here to help. My God Obama and Abe, this is over 200 High School students from one school. And to think that Obama will be here in Japan this week with a smile on while sitting next to Abe. Where are their senses? I know that I don't know exactly what was said between Japan, S. Korea and the US. But what I do know is that there are hundreds of high school children out there and not a sign of the US or Japan there doing a damn thing. I am disgusted in both countries.

Unfortunately you can't just say ''to hell with it'' and then send hundreds of ships into the rescue operation. That could of caused more harm than good with all of the confusion. In this type of situation you need a well ordered and disciplined approach to the operation so that you can maximize the resources to their full potential.

If the rumours are true and SK did refuse assistance purely because they didn't want Japan's help. Well then the blame lays with the SK government. Not Japan, not the US or any other country.

Who needs help from Japan? It better help itself before Shinzo Abe sinks the country.

Where there any Japanese Coast Ships even in close proximity to the ferry at the time of the disaster or is this story just a beat up in an attempt to provoke tensions between SKorea and Japan?

The fact that this info was leaked by Japanese officials toedia would suggest the latter.

Reports that up to 200 ships, 34 aircraft and 600 divers have been taking part in the search operation...that was the the official line, on the ground? 2 ships and one aircraft. Ask the locals.

Well that was a big mistake SK. Any and all help should be utilized when lives are in peril.

@Richard SegalAPR. 20, 2014 - 05:47PM JST The group of support needed are not military or regular experienced diver. What is needed here is the highly trained deep penetration cave divers, a specialty group that can explore the dark unknown bowels of the ship with specialized equipment tailored for extreme danger. The U.S. military and the JSDF do not have this type of equipment, training or recent experience...............

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Which US Military and JSDF places did you inspect and studied their equipment and training ???? When ?????

The fact that this info was leaked by Japanese officials toedia would suggest the latter.

First of all, this is not a fact. Secondly, there was no "leak". Suga mentioned this at a press conference and it was most probably in response to a question asking if Japan had offered to send help.

Reports that up to 200 ships, 34 aircraft and 600 divers have been taking part in the search operation...that was the the official line, on the ground? 2 ships and one aircraft. Ask the locals.

There have been rumors of what you are saying. The video with the 2 large airbags show more ships and the now *2 large cranes. But they should have many more larger ships to support the many dive crews that are needed = what they have is minimal and with time working against them the hope for any survivors now are very slim.

They are diving in 100 feet of murky water (fuel from ship + junk in water) with current, with 3 daily tides etc. This is a very difficult task that takes lots of energy with few people with the experience to do so.

Could have been done with enough large ships to surround and tether the whole site with every dive team possible coming in helicopters to assist while the cranes could get in position to pull it out or drag it into land.

CGB SpenderAPR. 20, 2014 - 03:09PM JST Park's inferiority complex showing in the purest, and most unfortunate form! Too arrogant and too proud of herself to accept help from those evil Japanese in time of disaster. After all it could bring voters against her! It's very sad that people had to die due to the politically-fueled arrogance.

Wild speculation on Spendors part here since it was just a rumour circulating a small group of parents in a gymnasium. But people believe what they want to I suppose with or without evidence. Sigh*

Shame on the journalist for using the tragic deaths of children for reinforcing erroneous stereotypes.

The SDF is a modern, efficient and professional service. When has it ever displayed any inhumanity?

How can the journalist write "certainly" when they are clearly projecting their own imagination.

Where is the evidence ever or at all?

I'm glad Japan asked to help but there is no chance the South Koreans would allow any Japanese military vessel to enter into their waters. They rejected help from everyone besides the US so it shouldn't be a surprise.

Honestly, what more can Japan do to help when USN is already there? Does the JCG have more capability than the SKCG and US Navy? If it doesn't, its just noise and unnecessary burden to complicate the rescue and search mission. They have a singular command structure there right now including the USN, adding JCG would most definitely complicate communication and task distribution. IF Japan has special techniques or experience in assisting this type of incident, then maybe Japan and lay it out to them as what Japan can offer to help. I don't see this happening.

Its a nice gesture by Japan but the reaction by SK should be expected. Sometimes more help doesn't equate as efficient or good help.

I had expected the operation to attempt to life the vessel once it had sunk. Salvage cranes normally won't lift when there are people still in the vessel, but clearly this is an extraordinary circumstance. Without being able to lift the vessel to the surface I see zero hope of an underwater rescue at that depth; what 10-12 minutes on scuba? If such a lifting by South Korean services can not be done and foreign assistance can, be it from the US or Japan, certainly it should be welcomed, all politics aside.

DaveAllTogetherApr. 20, 2014 - 06:01PM JST Something for consideration is that the ferry was designed and built in Japan. Call me crazy but I think Japan could >actually help a great deal.

The vessel was purchased second hand and considerably modified by the current South Korean owners, including expanding the superstructure by adding additional decking. In other words, the kind of changes that alter the vessel' s center of gravity. I have no doubt that there was fault with the cargo quantity and with the lashing, to cause the kind of listing and subsequent counter maneuvering that has been described in the news. However, the original Japanese yard may be able to provide assistance with the original design to help diver entry.

Japan learned the hard way not to refuse help. When Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed Japan refused American help and the flight attendant who survived said that there were many cries for help but they faded while waiting for the JSDF to get their act together, It is possible that Kyu Sakamoto would still be alive if Japan had accepted help. Why does Corea not study history and learn from the past?

Oh dear, I have been expecting the anti-Korean crew to come out eventually

And I had been expecting the pro-ROK crew to come out with excuses as to why their government refused help from neighbors and then botched the "rescue". And sure enough ...

Hidingout:

Well, in all fairness it is not sure that the Japanese or Americans would have been able to make a difference. By the time anybody could have gotten there, the ship was already under water.

But still, if the K-government refused foreign help right off the bat, that would be scandalous. I hope the Korean press investiges that.

there has been no official statement from the South Korean or Japanese governments confirming that help was deliberately refused. Nevertheless rumors continue to run rampant.her son was

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Families are desperate. In USA, Media showed meetings of rescuers representatives to parents. Many of them were wrapped with some kind of blankets. The photo showed lines of people who were sleeping on ground with some kind of blankets, So, I assumed they slept outside open area. The photo showed people and police encounter. Then photo showed carried body after body. About 17 years old and bodies are numbered like 55, 56. A mother who spoke English said she spoke with her son on e_phone, and showed screen, However, Her son was a dead body,

Japanese government had the same response to US during Fukushima disaster.

I am thinking about the recent autopsy reports that indicate some of the children had died just before they were taken out of the ferry. If some of these children were alive all this time (the thought is unbearable) it means that South Korean officials refused proximate help that would have made a difference from the worlds's second largest navy.

Thank you to Japan for offering to help in an emergency. This, more than anything, shows genuine character and humanity over all of this media crap.

I believe also, very firmly, that had a Japanese ship been in trouble, the Koreans would offer help.

A good relationship can be built on these basic things.

Suga didn't say the offer was refused, all he said was the offer was turned down,

This irresponsible reporter should have studied japanese language not to cause misunderstanding and unnecessarly attacking

During a press conference the next day,, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that at a meeting between South Korea and Japan’s coast guard, it was revealed that the Korean side refused assistance. Other Japanese officials had said that the South Korean coast guard replied, “We very much appreciate the offer, but currently, we have no special need for assistance.”

Beyond these remarks, there has been no official statement from the South Korean or Japanese governments confirming that help was deliberately refused. Nevertheless rumors continue to run rampant.

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So, it is still rumor.

A few weeks ago I added some South Korean news outlets to my phone. I don't read Korean so I had to download their English versions. I did this to make sure that when I replied to someone or to some topic that related to South Korea and it's news that I didn't make a mistake or misspoke.

After reading all the English outlets I haven't seen a single mention of the Japanese offer and absolutely nothing of the question that the unnamed family member asked the Coast Guard official.

It seems that the South Korean press is afraid to report any negative news of President Park and her administration. If her administration did refuse the offer then it should be reported. But, it seems that the South Korean press is unwilling to make note of anything positive that Japan has done.

lynnkApr. 21, 2014 - 02:16AM JST Suga didn't say the offer was refused, all he said was the offer was turned down, This irresponsible reporter should have studied japanese language not to cause misunderstanding and unnecessarly attacking

To "turn down an offer" is to "reject an offer" and reject means to refuse, there is no other way to say it. You can't candy coat what was offered and what was refused by claiming that the reporter was irresponsible. The reporter was spot on with his interpretation of Suga's statement.

Just to show you that I'm not being irrational or irresponsible I have added the meaning of "turn down"

Turn Something Down

to bend or fold something down. to decrease the volume of something. to reject something; to deny someone's request.

Reject

To refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or make use of. To refuse to consider or grant; deny. To refuse to recognize or give affection to (a person).

“We very much appreciate the offer, but currently, we have no special need for assistance.”

That's not a refusal, whatever the quality of translation. They had their rescuers and US armies there quicker than anyone else, and only them could rescue. That's the situation not some political statement or whatever. I'm sure they will ask assistance later. The boat was Japanese so it's likely that they will work with its makers and previous operators to investigate on the causes.

Anyone that had done scuba diving will tell you that at depth of 35m you can only dive for about 35 minutes and can only dive twice a day at those depth in fear of bends no matter how trained you are. It's not whether who is more trained, it's about the sheer numbers required. On top the oil contaminates starts melting the rubber that is used on the gear like packing sealing the face mask.

Facts:

The Ferry was built in Japan. The Ferry was re-outfitted to carry more than 100 additional passengers than what it was built for. An Amateur was at the helm and had never traveled these waters before. The crash and subsequent sinking occurred in waters known for violent water and whirlpools. The Korean coast guard refused everyone's help initially. Not just Japan. They indicated to the world they had everything under control The Korean coast guard realized they did not have the training for such a difficult rescue mission only after 2 days of ineffective efforts and allowed the U.S. to participate. They were on site and standing by while waiting for this approval. Japan wanted to do the same, but was refused to even show up. Not by the the coast guard, but by its government leaders.

The water temperature of 10 C to 15.5 C would restrict survival to between 1 - 6 hours. So the initial response was extremely inadequate in providing a successful rescue of anyone trapped longer unless they could get out of the water and whether they had air or not.

It is a moot point to discuss why Japan was restricted access to provide support and why the U.S. was called in so late. After three days this was well beyond a rescue mission and had sadly turned into a salvage mission. What confuses me the most with this rescue is that I have witnessed numerous accounts of oil tankers in the same predicament. These far more massive ships are taking on water and sinking and the first priority is to secure the ship from sinking so as to give more time to remove the cargo. Many techniques are used, like implementing steel cables and ropes under the ship which are attached to massive balloons to keep the ship afloat, or using cranes in place of the balloons, or even using massive fishing nets wrapped around the ship and held by numerous fishing trawlers. It seemed ridiculous to me to be sending in untrained divers into a still moving, sinking vessel to rescue someone.

I guess oil is more important than human life and getting re-elected is more desirable than sucking up your pride. I know that I would not be able to look into the crying eyes of a loved one who was trapped on that ship and realizing that I did not try every possible intelligent rescue that existed. A horrible, unnecessary, tragedy....

IF Japan was called for help JMSDF could have sent JS Chihaya or JS Chiyoda Submarine Rescue Ship equiped with underwater diving chambers to prolong activity time underwater for the divers.

Japan offered relief. This is a fact. I have done twice. Japanese are puzzled. Japan Coast Guard's excellent. Maritime Self-Defense Force can also rescue sunken submarine.

US navy stopped their practice and waited for go sign so as japanese so their offer were wasted morelikely.

As others have said, it is a shame that lives were lost due to her being too proud to accept help. Is it because it was Japan asking to help? Maybe. Or maybe she was too proud to ask for help from any country. Maybe an Asian thing? I say this because it reminds me of how Japan refused help from other countries after the big earthquake. Whatever the reason, it's a damn shame cuz more lives could have been saved.

If it was true and then S. Korean Government is stupid.

Ms. Alexander:

" As others have said, it is a shame that lives were lost due to her being too proud to accept help. "

And as others have also said, we don´t know if that was the case. This is only speculation

Japan offered aid with divers, equipment and ships on stand by. This is a fact not a rumor or speculation. The fact that they haven't left their ports means that Korea refused the aid. Why they refused is where the speculation comes in and I don't intend to partake in that.

I sincerely hope that this is not true because if it is, I don't know how they can call themselves human. The majority was high school students who haven't even lived their lives yet. They've been in the water for over a week and the less South Korea does or rejects help, the less chances of finding survivors. I don't care if the chances are just 1% of finding a survivor, you must ask and seek help to find all of them as quickly as possible and should stop only when everyone has been found, dead or alive. Do not make this about politics, make it about the lives that have been lost or can be potentially saved. Miracles do happen.