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Two Aegis destroyers of the U.S. Navy commanded by Korean-American officers will for the first time take part in a regular U.S.-Korean military exercise in March. A military source on Wednesday said the so-called Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise will be staged across Korea from March 9 to 20, and two U.S. Aegis ships led by Korean-American naval commanders will take part.
The officers are commander Choi Hee-dong, captain of the USS Chafee (DDG-90), and commander Jeffrey Kim, who will be assigned as captain of USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) next month. The John S. McCain (DDG-56) belongs to the Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan, which would be the first to sail to the Korean Peninsula in case of a war here.
That they are commanded by Korean Americans therefore has symbolic resonance. A ceremony for Kim to assume command will be held in Busan, a source said.
An officer with the U.S. Forces Korea said as in previous years, about 26,000 U.S. troops -- 12,000 USFK and about 14,000 other troops stationed overseas -- will participate. A fleet consisting of nuclear-powered 97,000 t-class aircraft carrier John C. Stennis, four to five Aegis destroyers, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine will also join the Korean Navy for an exercise.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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