The South Korean Navy said on March 27 that it held its annual maritime drills this week to boost its readiness against threats.
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| The Yellow Sea has witnessed maritime clashes between South Korea and North Korea in the past. |
The five-day exercise, which began on March 25, will take place in waters off South Korea's east, west and south coasts ahead of West Sea Defense Day on March 28 to commemorate 55 servicemen who died defending the Northern Limit Line ( NLL ) from 2002 to 2010, Yonhap reported.
To prepare for the exercise, the Navy said it has mobilized about 20 warships, including the 3,200-ton destroyer ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great, as well as about 10 aircraft, such as P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft.
According to the Navy, the 2nd Fleet, headquartered in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, will hold drills focused on countering threats near the NLL, as well as live-fire drills against enemy warships and submarines.
The 1st Fleet conducted live-fire anti-submarine exercises in the eastern seas, while the 3rd Fleet conducted exercises in the southern seas with a focus on protecting major ports.
The waters near the NLL in the Yellow Sea have been a flashpoint between the two Koreas, the scene of three bloody naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and 2009.
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