The South Korean Navy said Monday that it has deployed a 1,200-ton submarine to an international submarine rescue exercise under way off the coast of Australia.
The exercise, named "Pacific Reach 2007," is aimed at enhancing the ability to mobilize assets and manpower worldwide in an accident or other emergency situation involving submarine.
This year's training has drawn nine countries including the U.S., Japan, and Singapore, all of which are operating submarines in the Asian waters, the Navy said. The exercise, which started in 1999, has been held on an irregular basis and its venue rotates among the participating nations.
"The 1,200-ton Lee Eok-gi Ham is taking part in the exercise that kicks off on Monday for a 12-day run," a Navy spokesman said. "The training is to promote cooperation and interoperability in the field of submarine rescue."
South Korea hosted the submarine drills in 2004 in the waters near the country's southern resort island of Jeju.
More than 170 submarines have been lost worldwide in non-combat operations in the past hundred years.