South Korean destroyer to join US-led RIMPAC exercises

A South Korean Aegis-equipped destroyer, Jeongjo the Great, is set to depart on Monday, June 1, to take part in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC).

The vessel will leave a naval base on the southern island of Jeju later in the day to participate in multinational maritime drills scheduled off the coast of Hawaii from June 24 to July 31, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

This will mark the first participation of Jeongjo the Great in RIMPAC since its commissioning in December 2024.

This year, South Korea will serve for the first time as commander of the combined maritime forces within the exercise, while in 2024 it held the position of deputy commander.

Alongside the destroyer, the Republic of Korea Navy will deploy the 3,000-ton submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, both participating in RIMPAC for the first time.

The submarine and the frigate Daejeon will join the drills after joint exercises with Canada, while the amphibious ship Cheonjabong will head to Hawaii following search-and-rescue drills with Japan near Jeju Island on June 7.

South Korea will also send around 700 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, as well as AW-159 helicopters and six amphibious armoured vehicles.

RIMPAC, held every two years since 1971, aims to strengthen cooperation among participating nations in securing sea lanes and countering maritime threats. South Korea has participated since 1990.

This year’s exercise will involve 31 countries, more than 25,000 personnel, around 40 surface ships, five submarines, and 140 aircraft, according to the US Third Fleet.

By Jeyhun Aghazada