South Korea has deployed hundreds of troops to Thailand to participate in the annual Asia-Pacific Cobra Gold military exercises, taking place between February 13 and 23, organized by the US and Thai militaries.
Exercise Cobra Gold was launched in 1981, with South Korea formally joining the drills in 2010. This year, a combat unit of over 430 South Korean sailors and marines participated, while the US deployed its largest ever force of 6,800 service personnel, reports ABC News .
“The Navy and the Marine Corps have teamed up with each other so far to take part in the Cobra Gold exercise,” said Lee Kwang Ho, commander of a South Korean amphibious unit, as cited by The Straits Times . “On the basis of the tradition, we will contribute to regional stability and international peace by strengthening combined operation capabilities.”
South Korea, the US, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, and India all participated in Cobra Gold.
