Starting Tomorrow, South Korea and the U.S. to Conduct Large-Scale Joint Exercises in the West Sea

Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and US Air Force from tomorrow until the 27th

The Aegis destroyer Sejong the Great, leading the formation, along with the destroyer Yang Man-chun and the next-generation frigate Incheon, are conducting maritime maneuvering exercises in a column formation.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The South Korean and U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with the Korea Coast Guard, will conduct a large-scale live joint exercise in the West Sea from the 24th to the 27th to prepare for North Korean provocations.

As part of this year's Defense Training, the West Sea joint exercise will involve about 20 naval vessels including Aegis destroyers and frigates, as well as maritime patrol aircraft and maritime operation helicopters. The Army will deploy Apache helicopters and coastal surveillance units, and the Air Force will participate with combat aircraft such as F-15K and KF-16. The Coast Guard will also deploy vessels. Additionally, U.S. Army Apache helicopters and U.S. Air Force A-10 aircraft will participate as combined forces.

Key exercises include rapidly detecting infiltration forces such as enemy air-cushioned landing craft carrying special forces for high-speed infiltration into the northwestern islands and the west coast, and annihilating them through combined South Korean and U.S. joint forces in maritime counter-special operations forces (MCSOF). Other operations include responding to localized provocations along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and maritime blockade operations.

Ryu Hyo-sang, Commander of the Republic of Korea Navy 2nd Fleet, who is directing the West Sea joint exercise, said, "This exercise is a defensive training aimed at enhancing the capability to conduct combined joint operations in response to various maritime provocations," adding, "In case of enemy provocation, we will resolutely retaliate as trained and firmly defend our territorial waters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.