The Korea Herald:
The South Korean Navy said Thursday it will take part in the U.S.-led multinational Rim of the Pacific Exercise from late June, during which Seoul, Washington and Japan are slated to hold joint missile warning drills.
This year’s biennial drill, held in waters off Hawaii, will host 27 countries, also including China and first-time participants Brazil, Denmark, Germany and Italy. Military officials said this year’s RIMPAC will be the largest to date.
A group of some 700 Navy and Marine Corps servicemen, three ships, a P-3 patrol aircraft and Lynx helicopter departed from the southern port city of Busan on Thursday to take part in the drill slated to be held from June 30 to Aug. 4.
Playing a crucial part is the Aegis-equipped DDG-991 Sejong the Great destroyer, which in joint efforts with its U.S. and Japanese counterparts will partake in Pacific Dragon ballistic missile defense exercise prior to joining RIMPAC.
