South Korea will lead multinational naval forces for the first time during a US-led maritime exercise starting in June, the navy announced on Thursday.
According to reports, a South Korean admiral will command the combined naval forces in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, scheduled to take place in and around Hawaii from June 24 to July 31.
This marks the first time South Korea has assumed such a leadership role in the exercise. The country previously served as deputy commander in 2024.
RIMPAC, held every two years, aims to strengthen cooperation among participating nations in order to protect maritime lines of communication and counter potential security threats at sea.
South Korea has been participating in the exercise since 1990.
This year’s drill will involve a multinational force of more than 25,000 personnel, around 40 surface ships, five submarines, and 140 aircraft.
South Korea is expected to deploy its Aegis destroyer Jeongjo the Great, the P-9 maritime patrol aircraft, and the 3,000-ton submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho for the exercise.
