23.03.2023
The Ssangyong exercise includes airborne and amphibious landing drills conducted by marine units from the three countries, according to the South Korean Marine Corps.
Marine units of South KoreaThe United States, the United States and the United Kingdom are carrying out a “high intensity” air and amphibious infiltration exercise in full tension with North Korea, the South Korean Marine Corps reported this Thursday (03.23.2023) in a statement.
The Ssangyong (“Double Dragon”) exercise is taking place, like every year, around the city of Pohang (southeastern coast of South Korea) and this year they have also included, for the first time, the British Royal Marine Corps to “strengthen joint operational capabilities”.
The Ssangyong maneuvers, which were not carried out after its suspension in 2018 to facilitate the -now non-existent- dialogue with North Korea, started on Monday and will last until April 3.
During the drills, air and amphibious landing operations have been carried out to carry out infiltrations in target areas that have included precision fire practices or shooting on the move, according to the South Korean Marine Corps.
In turn, the South Korean Army reported today that it has completed a four-day live-fire exercise with US troops in Pocheon, near the inter-Korean border.
North Korea vows forceful response
All these joint maneuvers are included in the Warrior shield set of field exercises (FTX), which coincide with the celebration of the Freedom shield command post exercises (CPX), which the allies have been carrying out since March 13 and which conclude today.
North Korea has vowed a forceful response to these major maneuvers, the biggest in five years, and has carried out at least five missile launches in the past two weeks, most recently yesterday when it fired several cruise missiles off its northeast coast.
The exercises come after a 2022 in which North Koreawhich has rejected offers to return to dialogue, carried out a record number of weapons tests and in which Seúl y Washington they again carried out large maneuvers and deployed nuclear-powered aircraft carriers or US strategic bombers on the peninsula.
mg (efe, Yonhap)