Following the establishment of the Mobile Fleet Command, the South Korean Navy conducted its first fleet-level joint exercise with the Sejong the Great-class destroyer.
On Thursday, the Mobile Fleet Command announced that it conducted a three-day maritime exercise starting Tuesday in the West and South Sea, with Aegis destroyers and other mobile fleet assets participating.
The Sejong the Great (DDG-I), a 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer under the Mobile Fleet, participated in this exercise. As part of South Korea’s defense against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, the destroyer conducted ballistic missile detection and tracking operations, enhancing its role in the sea-based Korean Three-Axis System.
The sea-based Korean Three-Axis System has three key operational strategies to counter North Korea’s missile threats. The Kill Chain strategy focuses on preemptive strikes, targeting North Korean missile launch sites before an attack occurs. The Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system provides a multi-layered air defense capability, intercepting enemy missiles in midair. Meanwhile, the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy is a high-precision strike operation aimed at eliminating North Korea’s leadership and key facilities in the event of a nuclear attack.
In addition to Sejong the Great, several other key naval assets participated in the exercise. These included the Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-II), a 4,400-ton destroyer, and the Cheonji (AOE-I), a 4,200-ton combat support ship. The Jeonbuk and Gwangju (FFG-I), 2,500-ton frigates from the 3rd Fleet, and the Park Dong Jin (PKG), a 450-ton guided missile patrol vessel, also participated. The exercise involved nine naval vessels, one submarine, and 13 aircraft, reinforcing the Navy’s maritime combat capabilities.
The exercise included anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills and engagement control training for SM-2 ship-to-air guided missiles against enemy aircraft, further strengthening combat readiness against potential threats.
Colonel Cho Beom Sang, commander of Sejong the Great, stated, “We will establish an unshakable combat posture and mental readiness, ensuring that through realistic training, we can decisively retaliate and repel any enemy provocations with our full maritime operational capabilities.”