S. Korea to send warship, forces to regional maritime exercise near Brunei, Singapore

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will send a warship and a maritime helicopter along with military personnel to join a regional anti-terrorism exercise to be held in waters near Brunei and Singapore early next month, the defense ministry said Friday.

The maritime security exercise, to run from May 1-12, will bring together 17 navy vessels and 21 seaborne aircraft from 15 countries of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).

ADMM-Plus is a gathering of 10 ASEAN nations plus eight dialogue partners including South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.

It is the first joint maritime exercise to be organized by the regional body.

South Korea will dispatch some 300 troops along with Navy destroyer Choe Yeong and a Lynx maritime helicopter, the ministry said.

The exercise will involve operations to rescue kidnapped merchant vessels and their seamen as well as a maritime investigation, the ministry said.

"Concerning the protection of our commercial vessels, South Korea's participation will deliver a warning message to pirates active in Southeast Asia," the ministry said.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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