Starting from the 20th, it will be conducted on a division-level scale
Mobilization of 13,000 troops-light aircraft carrier-class ships
North Korea warns of countermeasures the day after ICBM provocation
On the 17th, South Korea and the United States announced plans for a large-scale joint amphibious exercise after North Korea revealed the launch of the Hwasong-17, a “monster ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)” observed by the wife of Kim Jong-un. It issued a warning that it would respond with a firm and overwhelming combined power of the United States and South Korea to North Korea’s ‘gang-to-gang’ provocation aimed at military cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan.
It is expected that the follow-up measures by the leaders of the ROK and the U.S. and the defense authorities, which agreed to significantly expand the scale and scope of joint exercises against North Korea’s nuclear threat, will begin in earnest.
The ROK and US Navy and Marine Corps announced on the 17th that they will be conducting ’23 Ssangryong Exercise’ in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, from the 20th of this month to the 3rd of April. The large-scale combined landing drill, which was suspended for reasons such as denuclearization negotiations since 2018 during the Moon Jae-in administration, will be revived after five years. The Ssangryong training was held at the brigade level until 2018, but this time it will be held at the division level.
A military official said, “The ROK-US combined force will deploy on a large scale by sea and air to show off the ROK-US alliance’s overwhelming power and ability to conduct combined amphibious operations.”
The exercise involved 13,000 troops, 30 warships, including the US Wasp-class amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD, 42,000t) and the South Korean military’s large transport ship Dokdo (LPH, 14,500t), and Apache attack helicopters. About 70 aircraft and 50 KAAVs will participate.
Makin Island can carry about 2,800 people, including 1,600 Marines, and can mount up to 20 F-35B vertical take-off and landing stealth fighters, so it is evaluated as a ‘light aircraft carrier’ in effect.
In addition, for the first time, about 40 members of one company of ‘Commando’, a special force of the British Marine Corps, a power supplier to the United Nations Command, will participate for the first time, and military officials from Australia, France and the Philippines will also observe.
The training starts with convoy operations for the safe movement of the landing force to the target area, then minesweeping (mine removal) operations, surveillance and reconnaissance of the target area in advance of landing, and forward force operation to eliminate threats in advance, large-scale firepower support to the target area of landing, and ‘decisive It proceeds in the order of air and sea assault, which is an action, and securing the target.
In the ‘decisive action’ phase, which will be held at the end of this month, the ROK-US combined and joint forces will conduct a combined amphibious operation by sea and air on a large scale to decorate the end of the training.
Commander of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant General Kim Gye-hwan, said, “This exercise demonstrates the will of the ROK-US alliance to realize ‘peace through strength’ through action. ” he said.
Yoon Sang-ho, military reporter [email protected]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.