Army's mechanized infantry unit starts winter training

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- The Army's mechanized infantry division has begun mid-winter tactical training designed to bolster its capability to carry out operations in very cold weather, the Army said Monday.

The nine-day training by the 20th Mechanized Infantry Division based in Yangpyeong, 55 kilometers east of Seoul, will continue through Saturday.

The tactical training includes a river crossing drill, which took place earlier in the day over the South Han River, according to the Army.

Military engineer troops were mobilized to move some 200 tanks and heavy weapons across the 250-meter-wide river in the Monday drill intended to bolster mobility of the mechanized infantry division, the Army said.

Two AH-1S Cobra combat helicopters were also deployed to the training site in preparation of a potential enemy attack, it also added.

"Through harsh training, the 20th division, South Korea's most elite mechanized unit, is fully prepared to severely retaliate against any kind of enemy provocations," Lt. Col. Kim Jong-hwan was quoted as saying of the training.

The 20th Mechanized Infantry Division is South Korea's first troops to have integrated South Korea's latest homegrown battle tanks into its forces.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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