S Korea to join U.S., Thai-led Cobra Gold exercise in late January

SEOUL, Jan. 8 -- South Korea will join the Cobra Gold, an annual combined-joint training exercise led by the United States and Thailand, for the first time, in late January, the Republic of Korea Navy said Friday.

About 380 soldiers at the squadron level will participate in the multilateral exercise slated from Jan. 28 to April 11, a navy official in Seoul told Xinhua.

It is the first time South Korea takes part directly in the drill since the country first joined it in 2002 as an observer, the navy said.

Along with Thailand, the United States and South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan will be fully participating in the exercise to prepare for complex multinational operations and improve military relations in the countries.

The exercise, regularly held since 1981 with an aim to achieve regional peace and security, will enhance South Korean navy's joint combat capabilities in deterring various international security threats, according to the navy.¡¡