South Korea and the US announce major amphibious exercises

The South Korean military said on August 25 that the Navy and Marine Corps of the country and the United States are expected to begin large-scale amphibious landing exercises in the southeastern city of Pohang and the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.

The exercise, which began on August 26 and runs until September 7, aims to build the allies' combat readiness and interoperability.

South Korean military officials said this year's Ssangyong (Double Dragon) exercise will mobilize division-level landing forces and about 40 ships, including two South Korean amphibious assault ships, ROKS Dokdo and ROKS Marado, and the US Navy's amphibious assault ship USS Boxer.

The exercise will also involve about 40 aircraft, including F-35B stealth jets, and about 40 amphibious assault vehicles.

Starting this year, the South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps will form a joint staff team to jointly command the amphibious landing exercise aboard the ROKS Marado.

Meanwhile, the Joint Military Command overseeing drone operations, set to be established in September 2023, will also participate in the Ssangyong exercise for the first time and conduct surveillance operations on drone deployment.

In addition, the British Royal Marines Commando force also participated in the Ssangyong exercise, marking the second consecutive year of participating in this exercise.

According to the exercise plan, the “decisive action” phase of the exercise will be conducted early next month, which will bring together soldiers, landing ships, fighter jets and helicopters to demonstrate “overwhelming” capabilities in the landing exercise.

South Korea and the US resumed the Ssangyong exercise for the first time in five years in March 2023.

The exercise has not been held since 2018 amid the Moon Jae-in administration's push for rapprochement between the two Koreas.