S.Korea, U.S. kick off joint maritime training exercises

South Korea and the United States on Friday kicked off a large-scale joint maritime training exercise as part of the joint annual war game code-named "Foal Eagle," the South Koran Navy said Friday.

The six-day maneuver was launched in South Korea's southern port city of Pohang earlier in the day, mobilizing some 4,100 naval forces and 3,500 marines of the two countries.

The drill came as part of the ongoing "Foal Eagle" field training exercise, which began on March 2 and will run until April 24. The "Foal Eagle" involves some 200,000 South Korean troops and 3,700 U.S. soldiers.

The maritime maneuver, which will run until April 1, mobilized some 30 naval ships and submarines: a 14,500-ton Landing Platform Helicopter ship, a 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer and a 1,200-ton submarine from South Korea along with the 41,000-ton amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, the 25,000-ton amphibious transport ship USS Green Bay and the 15,000-ton amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland from the United States.

Besides, about 80 aircrafts and some 40 amphibious armored vehicles from the two countries will be mobilized in the maneuver.

The combined forces will be trained in maritime reconnaissance and infiltration as well as naval and air gunfire supports to strengthen interoperability of the forces. Endi