US, ROK Navies Conduct Working Group to Strengthen Anti-Submarine Warfare

Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Joshua Kelsey | 161201-N-UL717-002 BUSAN, Republic of Korea (Dec. 01, 2016) - Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm, Kim, Jong-Il, deputy commander of ROK Fleet, review briefs prior to beginning an Anti-Submarine Warfare Working Group in Busan. The working group, co-hosted by CNFK and ROK Fleet, brought together personnel from 17 U.S. and ROK commands to discuss ways both navies can improve ASW capabilities. This is the fifth meeting solely focused on ASW since a cooperation charter was signed in 2014. (U.S. Navy Photo by Lt. Joshua Kelsey)  

26, SOUTH KOREA

12.01.2016

Story by Lt. Joshua Kelsey 

Commander, Naval Forces Korea

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (Dec. 1, 2016) – U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy leaders from across the region met in Busan to discuss ways in which both navies can improve ASW capabilities, Dec. 1-2.

The two-day ASW Working Group, co-hosted by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) and ROK Fleet, is the fifth meeting focused solely on ASW since the cooperation charter was signed in 2014.

“Submarine warfare is a known threat not just to the ROK but to the region,” said Rear Adm. Kim, Jong-Il, , the deputy commander of ROK Fleet. “This working group is important because the U.S. and ROK navies must continue to work together in strengthening our ASW capabilities.”

The working group, consisting of 17 U.S. and ROK commands, evaluated the effectiveness of the current agreement, and further synchronized all ASW improvement efforts to include training, exercises, and assessments.

Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CNFK and working group co-chair, echoed Kim’s sentiment and emphasized the importance of the working group.

"Anti-submarine warfare is complex,” Cooper said to the group during his opening remarks, “and to be successful, the complexity demands our attention and full buy-in. The threat of submarine warfare is real so that is why I am excited to see such a large group participate in this year’s discussion.”

Cooper concluded his remarks by thanking the more than 60 U.S. and ROK personnel in attendance for their dedication to developing training scenarios to enhance combined capabilities across all ASW domains from the subsurface, surface, and air.

“What you are doing here, from the discussions today to the table top exercise tomorrow, is important,” said Cooper. “The effort and attention we put into this working group will benefit the security of the region so your attendance here matters.”

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the commander of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnfk/.

• Date Taken: 12.01.2016
• Date Posted: 12.01.2016 00:51
• Story ID: 216083
• Location: 26, KR