The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) and the U.S. Navy on Monday began an unprecedented six-day naval exercise in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and in the Yellow Sea to the west and east of the Korean peninsula to warn North Korea against taking more provocations that might lead to war.
The timing of the naval drill is significant. It was launched Oct. 10, which marks the 71st anniversary of the founding of the Central Organizing Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, formerly called the Communist Party of Korea.
The joint drill by the ROKN and the USN named "Invincible Spirit 2016" involves more than 50 warships, including the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), homeported to Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.
Korean media said the U.S.' plan is to "increase the level of military pressure on North Korea, by taking steps after the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan to send other major strategic weapons." The exercise also demonstrates the alliance's resolve amid growing threats from a recalcitrant North Korea.
Leading ROKN warships at Invincible Spirit is ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991), one of three Sejong the Great-class guided missile destroyers.
The Sejong the Great-class is one of the most heavily armed warships in the world with more missile capacity than the U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. It features the Aegis Combat System (Baseline 7 Phase 1) combined with AN/SPY-1D multi-function radar antennae.
Invincible Spirit will see the participation of seven U.S. Navy warships and some 40 ROKN warships. Aircraft from both sides include Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol planes; Boeing P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine and maritime patrol planes; Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet carrier based multi-role fighters and Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, among others.
The two navies will carry out a drill to enhance their precision strike capabilities against North Korea's command centers and key military facilities. There will be a "maritime counter special operations force" (MCSOF) exercise in the East and Yellow Seas against enemy infiltration.
An ROKN official said the exercise is also being held in the East Sea to show the two allies can counter North Korea from any spot. A carrier strike group will simultaneously conduct an exercise in southwestern waters of the Korean Peninsula.
The ROKN and the USN plan to boost interoperability and joint operation capabilities through war-simulation exercises such as antisubmarine, anti-aircraft and precision-guided strike operations.