Joint military exercise with British soldiers underway near demilitarized zone

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : November 12, 2024, 15:00 Updated : November 12, 2024, 15:04
British and Korean soldiers participate in a joint exercise near the demilitarized zone on Nov. 11, 2024. Courtesy of the British Embassy in Korea
SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - A military exercise involving British soldiers kicked off in South Korea on Monday.

The 10-day joint exercise near the demilitarized zone dubbed "Exercise Imjin Warrior" - named after the "Battle of the Imjin River" in 1951 during the Korean War (1950~1953) - includes around 100 soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a rifle regiment of the British Army and runs until next week.

The military drill, the third of its kind, aims to strengthen the defense partnership between the two countries and enhance military readiness.

It fulfills commitments agreed during President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to the U.K. in November last year. Yoon and then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed to make joint efforts for regional security and enhance defense collaboration for peace in Northeast Asia.

The exercise "not only builds critical interoperability between our forces but also strengthens the people-to-people connections that underpin our nations' partnership," said Commodore Andy Lamb, the U.K. Defense Attaché to Seoul.

It "embodies the spirit of collaboration between the U.K. and [South Korean] Armed Forces and highlights our shared commitment to regional stability and resilience," he added.

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