South Korean and US marines hold a joint drill in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines. Photo by FRANCIS R. MALASIG / EPA
June 30 (Asia Today) -- South Korean Marines have joined U.S., Philippine and Japanese forces in a multinational exercise in the Philippines, conducting amphibious operations, reconnaissance missions and humanitarian assistance training in an unfamiliar operating environment.
The South Korean contingent has participated in KAMANDAG 10 on the Philippine island of Luzon since June 14 and will continue training through Wednesday, the Marine Corps said Tuesday.
The exercise strengthens maritime security, coastal defense, multinational interoperability and humanitarian and disaster-response capabilities. KAMANDAG is derived from the Filipino phrase Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma ng Dagat, meaning "Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea."
The Philippine and U.S. Marine Corps have conducted the annual exercise since 2017. South Korea has sent a company-sized contingent each year since 2022 at the invitation of the two countries.
