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Soldiers under the 2nd Army Corps run toward potential targets after getting off from a helicopter on the first day of the joint annual Hoguk exercises that was launched on Oct. 27 in Hwacheon, Gangwon. (By Lee Hyeong-bok) |
South Korea launched on Oct. 27 the annual Hoguk joint exercises of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps across the country for a nine-day run.
The exercises, aimed at strengthening joint operational capabilities in case of regional and all-out warfares against North Korea on the Korean Peninsula, is being conducted differently this year. Followed by a recent establishment of the Northwest Islands Defense Command, northwest islands defense training and joint drills on defending the Northern Limit Line (NLL), de facto maritime border between the two Koreas are being carried out.
For South Korean Army, two Army corps will jointly train on operational plan in their responsible areas. Until last year, two corps implemented a simulated war fighting on a random area with one corp being an attacker and another being a defender.
This year’s Hoguk exercises got under way the first drill conducted by the 2nd Army Corps. The corps had carried out large-scale three-day field exercises from Oct. 27 around Chuncheon, Hwacheon and Hongcheong regions in Gangwon.
On the first day of the Hoguk exercise, the 2nd Corps received a surprised artillery attacks near the General Outpost area. Also simulated enemy’s AN-2 plane infiltrated in the air. The corps immediately activated joint operations command system and secured the source of the attacks.
Through such exercises, the corps was able to train on crushing enemy’s will to attack in an early stage and evacuating local residents in preparations for further provocations from the enemy at the same time.
In response to aerial attacks from enemy, the corps applied operational system prepared by subordinate units in order to reduce the operations response time.
Special warfare and patrol commandos were dispatched to the target and jointly conducted the training with the Army aviation units to defeat potential enemy.
The corps mobilized some 30,000 troops and about 3,100 tanks and armored vehicles to carry out the large-scale exercises. The corps conducted the drills to maintain perfect combat readiness and reinforce joint operational capabilities not only with other military units but also with government and private agencies and institutions.
On the second day of the joint exercises, the training will be focused on countering various contingencies by organizing large-scale potential attackers to prepare for the transition of wartime operational command from the United States to South Korea. Also the military upgrade the status of combat capabilities by implementing actual war fighting training programs.
“Through practical and effective Hoguk exercises that match changes of enemy threat and theater situation, we will foster elite 2nd Corps that can fight and win right away,” said Col. Lee Won-mun, operations officer under the corps.
The Naval first fleet launched the Hoguk exercises on Oct. 27 by setting emergency sail and sail through sea route floated with enemy’s sea mines.
The fleet is planning to mobilize some 10 warships, including destroyers and corvettes, Lynx helicopters and P-3 early-warning planes until Nov. 4 to bolster maritime combat capabilities.
In particular, the fleet is slated to upgrade its readiness by conducting training on regional warfare near NLL, anti-air defense drills and Maritime Counter Special Operations Force exercises.
If the first day was just warm-up day, the real training mode will begin on the second day.
If the first day was just warm-up day, the real training mode will begin on the second day.
Along with the Marine Corps’ northwest islands defense exercise, the 52th Division under the Army Capital Defense Command is set to conduct defense drill at KT Guro branch which is one of important state facilities in Seoul.