South Korean and U.S. marines conducted their first joint drill to brace for a possible exodus of North Korean refugees in the event of an emergency situation, a military official said Thursday.
The exercise, also involving the South Korean Navy, is part of the nine-day joint landing exercises which will run until Sunday in the southeastern city of Pohang, the Marine Corps said.
The exercise focused on how to accommodate and provide humanitarian support to North Korean refugees in the event of conflict or the sudden collapse of the North regime that could lead to an outflow of people.
The civil-military operation brought together around 130 American soldiers and special personnel who have experience in assisting refugees in Afghanistan, it said.
The South Korean Navy and Marine Corps have jointly operated a unit set up to take part in operations to support possible North Korean refugees.
"The exercise helped us share experiences with U.S. soldiers in accommodating and helping refugees," said a Marine Corps officer.
The allies also conducted a joint drill to transport equipment needed for an amphibious landing, it said.
Mobilizing about 2,600 soldiers and about 300 military assets, the drill was carried out by renting a private deck carrier on which a 17,000 ton helicopters can land.
A military official said that the drill will help boost capabilities to speedily deploy forces to areas where existing port facilities have been destroyed or where the coastline makes it hard to send in troops and their equipment. (Yonhap)