The exercises involved the South Korean Navy’s 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine, the 3,100-ton frigate Daejeon and an AW-159 maritime helicopter.
Canada deployed the 2,200-ton submarine Corner Brook, the 4,000-ton frigate Ottawa, a CH-148 maritime helicopter and a CP-140 maritime patrol aircraft.
According to the Navy, the two sides carried out anti-surface warfare drills, anti-submarine exercises and helicopter deck landing operations aimed at strengthening interoperability and combined operational capabilities.
Six Canadian submariners, including Capt. Benjamin Hong, boarded the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho and participated in the drills alongside South Korean sailors.
The six crew members are expected to remain aboard the submarine after the exercise and sail with the South Korean Navy to Hawaii for the upcoming Rim of the Pacific Exercise, or RIMPAC, the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise.
Col. Kim Ki-beom, commander of South Korea’s Task Flotilla 73, which led the Korean naval forces during the exercise, said the two countries would continue strengthening cooperation to maintain maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Based on the strong cooperation between South Korea and Canada, we will continue maintaining readiness to protect maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region and respond strongly to any threats,” Kim said.
The Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine and Daejeon frigate are scheduled to participate in RIMPAC, which begins on June 24.
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