Changwon: South Korea and the United States have recently concluded a regular naval exercise designed to enhance their joint salvage and rescue capabilities at sea, applicable in both wartime and peacetime scenarios, as reported by the Navy.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the five-day exercise commenced on Monday in the waters off Changwon, approximately 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The exercise featured the participation of the ROKS Gwangyang salvage and rescue ship, along with troops from the Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit and the U.S. Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit.

The primary aim of the joint exercise was to train South Korean and U.S. sailors for combined rescue and salvage operations in maritime distress situations, regardless of whether they occur during wartime or peacetime. The drills included scuba training for searching missing personnel from a simulated shipwreck, as well as the use of a diving bell to transport divers to underwater depths of around 40 to 50 meters.

In addition to the main participants, Coast Guard personnel and British and Australian troops participated in the drills as observers. During the exercise, South Korean and U.S. naval officials also engaged in discussions on Tuesday and Wednesday, focusing on enhancing cooperation between their respective salvage units.