Page 113 - 2020 Defence White Paper

including rapid task force training,
combined and joint exercises, and the
tactical training of different echelons.
Am-phibious trainings cultivate the
Marine Corps’ combined and joint
forcible entry operations, while the
capabilities of the rapid task forces are
being reinforced through defensive Joint amphibious exercise (April 2020) Chapter 3
operations, stabilization operations,
and nonmilitary operations on the northwestern islands. In addition, the Marine
Corps conducts northwest islands augmentation training as well as field training in
Ulleungdo and Jejudo Islands.
The Marine Corps conducts and participates in a variety of combined exercises. The
47)
ROK and US Marine Corps conduct the Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) –
a combined tactical echelon-level exercise–at least 20 times a year to develop the
capabilities of each specialty branch and enhance combined operational capabilities.
The ROK Marine Corps also participates in Cobra Gold, Khaan uest, RIMPAC,
and other combined overseas exercises. Also, by observing overseas exercises such as

the Talisman Saber training in Australia and Kamandag training in the Philippines,
the Marine Corps is working on expanding its participation in overseas multilateral
combined exercises starting in 2021. The combined exercises carried out by the Marine
Corps for the past three years are summarized in Chart 3-16 .

[Chart 3-16] The Marine Corps’ Joint Exercises During the Past Three Years
(Unit: times)
Domestic Overseas
Year Total
Subtotal ROK–US Multilateral Subtotal ROK–US Multilateral
2018 15 12 12 - 3 - 3
2019 25 24 24 - 1 - 1
2020 8 7 7 - 1 - 1

Tactical training for different echelons are aimed at attaining completeness in 47)
the Marine Corps’ execution of operations to lead and manage isolated battlefields. An ROK–US combined
exercise for tactical
Moreover, the Marine Corps is actively carrying out tactical training linked to marine units conducted
in the ROK with the
unit-specific airborne training, amphibious raid training, and guerrilla training. In objective of enhancing
combined operation
addition, the Marine Corps is enhancing realistic training into engagement training execution capabilities and
interoperability between
that utilizes scientific training while conducting amphibious operation PASSE at the two countries’ Marine
Corps through a systemic
battalion–or lower–level and regular amphibious ship loading training. approach

Chapter 3. Safeguarding Peace by Establishing a Robust Defense Posture Against Omnidirectional Security Threats