Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korean Navy and Marine Corps will join Cobra Gold 2018, which is held in Thailand from the 13th to the 23rd of this month.  

Cobra Gold is a military exercise, through which the soldiers will improve their capability of carrying out multinational joint operations and humanitarian civic actions. This year, there are six vessels, 34 landing vehicles tracked, 86 aircraft, and 17,000 troops from nine countries participating, including Republic of Korea, United States, China, and Japan, while 10 countries will be present as observers, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and France. Republic of Korea has dispatched 430 soldiers and the 4900-ton tank landing ship (LST-Ⅱ), Cheonjabong, as an exercise squadron.

The squadron will carry out three different exercises: a command post exercise (CPX) involving the multinational force combined staff group, a humanitarian civic action (HCA), and a field training exercise (FTX). 

In addition, as part of their humanitarian civic efforts, the squadron will carry out joint underwater construction at Sattahip Port, lay flowers at monuments, and perform other voluntary activities. After all of the activities are complete, the squadron is expected to return home early next month.

“The Navy and Marine Corps, as groups sharing a common destiny, will protect against various threats and keep developing our ability to carry out operations in order to protect Korea's safety and interests around the world,” said Captain Lee, Hong-jeong, commander of the squadron.

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