The USS Makin Island LHD 8 a Wasp-class amphibious attack ship, is seen at a South Korean naval port in the southeastern port city of Busan on March 23, 2023. The PHOTO AP BUSAN, South Korea -- South Korean and US troops launched their largest amphibious landing drills in years involving a US amphibious assault ship, officials said on Thursday.
The USS Makin Island docked at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan on Wednesday to join the Ssangyong exercise which kicked off on Monday near Pohang on South Korea's east coast and will last until April 3.
The South Korean military said that around 12,000 sailors and marines from the two countries will take part, as will 30 warships, 70 aircraft and 50 amphibious assault vehicles.
Captain Tony Chavez, commanding officer of Makin Island, said the exercises with South Korea were intended to build muscle memory to respond to a crisis if needed.
ALSO READ: ROK, US to hold the largest live-fire drills.
Chavez told reporters aboard the ship that we are able to amass forces to maintain maritime and air superiority and defend Northeast Asia or all of the Indo-Pacific region.
Hundreds of armored vehicles and 10 F-35 stealth fighters are also on the Makin Island. The US military said that the ship's welldeck, which can be flooded to allow direct access to the sea, allows it to launch and recover landing craft and other amphibious vehicles.
The Makin Island public affairs officer, Lieutenant Jarred Reid-Dixon, said that our biggest thing is that we have all the Marines. We could take people on here and put them on the ground to seize an area if we had to. READ MORE: US, S. Korean troops to conduct the largest combined drills in years.
The allies were expected to conclude 11 days of their regular springtime exercises, called Freedom Shield 23, on Thursday, though they have other field training exercises under the name Warrior Shield.