On March 27, the Korean Navy said it held its annual maritime exercise this week to enhance readiness against threats.
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| The Yellow Sea has witnessed maritime skirmishes between South Korea and North Korea in the past. |
Yonhap reported that the 5-day exercise, starting on March 25, in the waters off the East, West and South coasts of Korea before West Sea Defense Day on March 3 aims to commemorate remembering the 28 soldiers who died fighting to protect the Northern Limit Line (NLL) from 3-55.
To prepare for the exercise, the Navy said it has mobilized about 20 warships, including the 3.200-ton ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer, as well as about 10 aircraft, such as the P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft. .
According to the Navy, the 2nd Fleet, headquartered in Pyeongtaek, 60 km south of Seoul, will hold exercises focused on countering threats near the NLL, as well as firing exercises live ammunition against enemy warships and submarines.
Fleet 1 rehearsed anti-submarine live fire in the Eastern Sea, while Fleet 3 rehearsed in the Southern Sea with a focus on protecting major ports.
The waters near NLL in the Yellow Sea were once a flashpoint between the two Koreas, where three bloody naval skirmishes took place in 1999, 2002 and 2009.
