TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force said Tuesday it has grounded all 17 of its U.S.-made V-22 Ospreys for the time being due to security concerns, with the only exception being for mercy flights such as disaster relief.

The suspension of flights comes after U.S. forces decided Monday to ground their Ospreys -- a tilt-rotor military transport and cargo aircraft -- following a recent precautionary landing.

The GSDF only recently resumed operations of its Ospreys on Nov. 15, after implementing measures to prevent a recurrence of an accident in Okinawa Prefecture in late October.