Army special forces stage annual maritime infiltration exercise

This shows special operations troops conducting a maritime infiltration exercise in Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, Friday. Courtesy of the Republic of Korea Army

Army special operations troops on Friday wrapped up an exercise designed to beef up their maritime infiltration capabilities near an island off the west coast, officials said.

The five-day exercise, which kicked off on Monday around Anmyeon Island, 123 kilometers southwest of Seoul, involved some 150 personnel under the Army Special Warfare Command and about 20 pieces of equipment, such as special operations boats.

This year, a 130-ton vessel was mobilized in the training to enhance their maritime infiltration capabilities at war.

The Army said it had readied heat-prevention rescue kits and first responders near the training site to brace for heat-related accidents amid extreme heat waves across the country.

"Through this year's training, we could beef up our maritime infiltration capabilities one step further," Yoo Sun-min, an Army lieutenant colonel who led the operation, said.