Three Chinese Fishermen Dead in S.Korea Coastguard Confrontation
China lodges protest with Seoul over the incident. Three Chinese fishermen were killed on Thursday in a fire that broke out on their boat when South Korean coastguard men trying to apprehend them for illegal fishing threw flash grenades into a room they were hiding in, a South Korean official said. Disputes over illegal fishing are an irritant in relations between China and U.S. ally South Korea, even as their economic relations grow close. They also share concern about North Korea's nuclear weapon and missile programmes. The three men were believed to have suffocated, a coastguard official in the South Korean port city of Mokpo said, adding that the incident was being investigated.
New Era of US, ROK Navy Alliance Begins in Busan
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19, officially opening its headquarters in Busan and ushering in a new era of U.S. and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) alliance. The ceremony, attended by dignitaries and senior U.S. and ROK military leaders, marked the completion of CNFK's relocation to Busan making it the only U.S. military headquarters in Korea located on a ROK base. "Five years in the planning, but 59 years in the making, Commander Naval Forces Korea is home in Busan," Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, commander of CNFK, said. The relocation from Seoul to Busan enhances the alliance between the ROK and U.S. navies by enabling closer collaboration and communication and reinforces the strong relationship between the partner navies.
US Bolsters Navy Alliance with Korea
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony February 19, officially opening its headquarters in Busan and ushering in a new era of U.S. and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) alliance. The ceremony, attended by dignitaries and senior U.S. and ROK military leaders, marked the completion of CNFK's relocation to Busan making it the only U.S. military headquarters in Korea located on a ROK base. "Five years in the planning, but 59 years in the making, Commander Naval Forces Korea is home in Busan," Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, commander of CNFK, said.
U.S., Korea Conclude Exercise Clear Horizon
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14, Detachment 1, and Mine Countermeasure Squadron (MCMRON) 7, completed the bilateral mine countermeasures exercise Clear Horizon with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, Nov. 13. Exercise Clear Horizon is an annual bilateral exercise between the U.S. and ROK navies that focus on increasing capabilities and coordination between ships, and aircraft in mine countermeasures in international waters surrounding the Korean peninsula. "This exercise is a testament to the strong partnership between the U.S. and our ROK partners," said Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, the commander of Naval Forces Korea. Approximately 330 U.S.
U.S., ROK Navies Perfect Warfighting Skills
Personnel and units of the U.S. military and Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command (CFC) conducted their annual combined and joint exercise, Reception, Staging, Onward-movement, & Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/Foal Eagle 06) March 24-31. RSOI and Foal Eagle are Korean-theaterwide computer-simulated and field exercises designed to evaluate and improve the U.S. and ROK forces' ability to coordinate the procedures, plans and systems necessary to defend the ROK in a contingency. It focuses on ground maneuver, air, naval, expeditionary, and special operations, as well as command and control training. Foal Eagle involved more than 70 U.S. and ROK Navy ships and more than 100 aircraft from all services of both the U.S. and ROK armed forces.
