Naval Forces Unite Against North Korea: Joint Anti-Submarine Drills Commence

Our military has embarked on anti-submarine warfare training with the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. This is in response to the escalating underwater threats from North Korea. Amid North Korea’s series of provocations, including mass coastal artillery firing and missile provocations since the beginning of the new year, Chairman Kim Jong-un is escalating threats, saying, “In a simulated situation, we will completely conquer, pacify, and reclaim South Korea.”

The Navy is set to participate in the multinational joint exercise Sea Dragon, taking place off the coast of the U.S. territory of Guam from the 16th to the 25th. This annual exercise, held since 2014, involves countries operating maritime patrol aircraft and aims to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Korea initially observed the exercise in 2019 and has actively participated with P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and troops since 2020.

This year’s exercise includes participation from five countries: Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. The Korean Navy has deployed one P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and approximately 40 personnel. Throughout the training, forces from each participating country will engage in intensive submarine tracking and maritime patrol operation procedure training to bolster their joint anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Korea’s P-3 maritime patrol aircraft is crucial in identifying and tracking submarines, utilizing detection equipment such as radar and sonobuoys. It also facilitates sharing collected submarine target information with maritime patrol aircraft from other participating nations.

The Sea Dragon exercise holds significant importance as it addresses the need for joint responses to North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capabilities. North Korea conducted a test launch of the Sinpo-class mini SLBM in 2022 and unveiled strategic nuclear weapons Sea-1 and Sea-2 in March and April of the following year. In September of that year, they launched a new submarine, Hero Kim Gun Ok, claiming to be an underwater nuclear attack submarine equipped with ten launch tubes.

On the 15th, North Korea’s Kim announced in the Supreme People’s Assembly, “In the event of war on the Korean Peninsula, we should aim to fully conquer, pacify, and incorporate South Korea into our territory, as stated in our constitution,” openly expressing his intent to use force.

Lieutenant Colonel Kim Tae Ho, the commander of the Sea Dragon exercise, emphasized the exercise’s significance, saying, “The Sea Dragon exercise provides a valuable opportunity to enhance joint anti-submarine warfare capabilities among participating countries and master anti-submarine tactics. Through this exercise, we aim to strengthen our response capabilities to the escalating underwater threats posed by North Korea.”

Participants from the Korean Navy plan to visit the Guam War Memorial on the 24th to honor the sacrifices of U.S. veterans who fought and died in the Korean War.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik praised our Marine Corps for conducting maritime firing training in response to North Korea’s artillery firing in the western border area earlier this month at a 2024 Marine Corps Reserve Policy Briefing held at the Militopia Hotel in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, today. He also said, “We plan to convert the Militopia Hotel into a Marine Corps facility to fulfill the long-cherished wish of establishing a Marine Corps Hall on this year’s Marine Corps Day.”