India, Korea Coast Guards participate in joint exercise

Chennai, July 5 (UNI) Giving impetus to defence cooperation between India and South Korea, the coast guards of both countries conducted a joint exercise off the Chennai Coast today.

The 79-crew Korean Coast Guard ship 'Taepyungyang No 6', with one twin engine helicopter, under the command of Superintendent Ju Mun Sbok took part in the exercise.

Along with the Korean ship, one advance offshore patrol vessel, two offshore patrol vessels, two fast patrol vessels, one inshore patrol vessel, one interceptor boat, four dornier aircraft and three Chetak helicopters of the India Coast Guard undertook various Coast Guard-related operations.

This was first such exercise between the two countries held in India, the earlier being conducted in Port Busan, South Korea, from November 21 to 24, 2005, in which ICG ship Samar participated.

During the exercise, the procedures and interoperability of two forces were revalidated and the laid down formats were updated as required to enable ease of operation and deployability of forces when needed.

The Coast Guard of India and South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) on March 13, 2006, as per which both the countries resolved to cooperate in fields related to search and rescue, marine pollution, transnational crimes, exchange of information with respect to rouge vessels, persons, suspects and their movement as well as exchange of expertise available in these fields.

Procedures and formats for exchange of data on various related issues and the interoperability of forces of the two countries were also being evolved through meetings and scheduled excercises between the two forces.

UNI AKN VD KP1827