ROK Navy and Marine Corps take part in multinational drill jointly hosted by U.S. and Australia

South Korea's Navy and Marine Corps successfully took part in a multinational exercise, jointly hosted by the U.S. and Australia.

Our Kim Bo-kyoung has the details.

South Korea's Navy and Marine Corps have successfully completed their part in a biennial multinational exercise in Australia, that went on for around a month starting early this July.

Named "Talisman Sabre," meaning "sword with mysterious power," the exercise marks the largest bilateral military drill between Australia and the U.S.

Aiming to hone operational capabilities, this year's edition united more than 35-thousand military personnel from 19 like-minded countries.

Korea's Navy first participated in 2021, and the Marine Corps joined in 2023.

More than eight-hundred personnel from the Navy and Marine Corps, along with around ten types of equipment, including Korean amphibious assault vehicles, K-9 self-propelled howitzers, and multiple Chunmoo rocket systems, joined the exercise.

With U.S. and Australian forces, Korean troops conducted joint live-fire training, with K-1 tanks joining the drill for the first time. and amphibious, airborne assault drills, using Korean and Australian assault assets, also took place.

The drill was seen as a chance to improve operational capabilities.

"We have conducted combined joint operations with the Republic of Korea, conducting naval, maritime, and land operations as part of ongoing integration training in order to ensure that we can work together in a safe environment and fight together if required."

"Through tactical exchanges with various countries such as Australia and the United States during this training, our unit's combat capabilities have advanced to a higher level. We will do our best to complete our mission with strong unity and ensure everyone returns safely."

The Navy and Marine Corps personnel who took part will depart Australia on Tuesday, and arrive at a port in Jinhae of Gyeongsangnam-do Province in mid-August.

Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.