[9news.com.au / AAP] Australian soldiers head for South Korea

February 16, 2016

 

South Korean marine LVT-7 landing craft sail to shores through smoke screens during the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises called Ssangyong,  part of the Foal Eagle military exercises, in Pohang, South Korea, Monday, March 31, 2014.  South Korea said North Korea has announced plans to conduct live-fire drills near the rivals' disputed western sea boundary. The planned drills Monday come after an increase in threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang and a series of rocket and ballistic missile launches in an apparent protest against the annual military exercises by Seoul and Washington.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korean marine LVT-7 landing craft sail to shores through smoke screens during the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises called Ssangyong, part of the Foal Eagle military exercises, in Pohang, South Korea, Monday, March 31, 2014. South Korea said North Korea has announced plans to conduct live-fire drills near the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary. The planned drills Monday come after an increase in threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang and a series of rocket and ballistic missile launches in an apparent protest against the annual military exercises by Seoul and Washington.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

[9news.com.au / AAP] – Australian soldiers will head to South Korea next month for large scale amphibious landing exercises alongside Korean and US troops.

Around 150 Australian soldiers, including infantry, a joint fire team, combat engineers and medics will participate in the Exercise Ssang Yong, the largest training activity involving the Australian army and the Republic of Korea.

This annual event generally sparks a bellicose response from North Korea which regards this as a rehearsal for an invasion.

About 60 New Zealand defense force personnel will also participate in the exercise for the first time.
It will be the 16th annual Exercise Ssang Yong – meaning twin dragons – which in past years has involved more than 10,000 US Marines, US Navy personnel and ROK troops. [READ MORE]