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Thursday, March 23, 2023, 14:32
US amphibious assault ship joins drills in South Korea
By Agencies
Thursday, March 23, 2023, 14:32 By Agencies

The USS Makin Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is seen at a South Korean naval port in the southeastern port city of Busan on March 23, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

BUSAN, South Korea - South Korean and US troops launched their largest amphibious landing drills in years involving a US amphibious assault ship, officials said on Thursday.

The USS Makin Island docked at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan on Wednesday to join the Ssangyong exercise, which kicked off on Monday near Pohang on South Korea's east coast and will last until April 3.

About 12,000 sailors and marines from the two countries will take part, as will 30 warships, 70 aircraft and 50 amphibious assault vehicles, the South Korean military said.

The USS Makin Island carries 10 F-35 stealth fighters in addition to dozens of armored vehicles. The ship's welldeck, which can be flooded to provide direct access to the sea, allows it to launch and recover landing craft and other amphibious vehicles, the US military said

Captain Tony Chavez, commanding officer of the Makin Island, said the combined exercises with South Korea are aimed at building "muscle memory" to respond to a crisis if needed.

ALSO READ: ROK, US to hold largest live-fire drills

"We are ensuring that we are able to amass forces to maintain maritime and air superiority and defend Northeast Asia or all of the Indo-Pacific region," Chavez told reporters aboard the ship.

The Makin Island carries 10 F-35 stealth fighters in addition to dozens of armored vehicles. The ship's welldeck, which can be flooded to provide direct access to the sea, allows it to launch and recover landing craft and other amphibious vehicles, the US military said.

"Our biggest thing is that we have all the Marines," said the Makin Island's public affairs officer, Lieutenant Jarred Reid-Dixon. "We can take people on here and put them on the ground to seize an area if we had to."

READ MORE: US, S. Korean troops to conduct largest combined drills in years

The allies were scheduled to conclude 11 days of their regular springtime exercises, called Freedom Shield 23, on Thursday, though they have other field training exercises continuing under the name Warrior Shield.

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