SEOUL: The Navy has conducted a series of warship drills in the East Sea to bolster its preparedness against potential North Korean maritime threats. The exercises, which spanned four days starting on Tuesday, involved around 20 naval vessels, including the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, an Aegis-equipped destroyer, as well as various aircraft such as the P-3 maritime patrol plane and the Air Force’s F-5 fighter.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. military participated in the drills by deploying P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and A-10 attack aircraft. The exercises aimed to train troops in responding to diverse attack scenarios, including countering infiltrations by enemy special forces and other unexpected underwater, maritime, and aerial provocations, as stated by the Navy.
The drills also encompassed other readiness-enhancing exercises, such as anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare training. These maneuvers come amid escalating cross-border tensions following North Korea’s demolition of inter-K
orean roads last week and the continued launch of balloons carrying waste into South Korea.