The Republic of Korea Marine Corps Headquarters and the Northwest Islands Defense Command said on the 22nd that they are conducting the second-half 2026 joint island defense exercise on Baengnyeong Island, Yeonpyeong Island and other northwestern islands from the 19th through the 23rd as part of the Hoguk military exercise.
The joint island defense exercise is an annual drill led by the Northwest Islands Defense Command, which is commanded by the Marine Corps commandant, and joined by joint forces from supporting operations commands. It verifies integrated response capabilities to maintain defense readiness for the northwestern islands.
Along with the Marine Corps Headquarters and the Northwest Islands Defense Command, the Ground Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Force Operations Command and Army Aviation Command are taking part. About 6,000 troops are participating, along with naval vessels, aircraft and drones.
The exercise began with the deployment of reinforcements, including a Marine Corps rapid maneuver unit, to the northwestern islands to counter complex provocation scenarios involving enemy artillery, high-speed aircraft, cruise missiles and suicide drones. The reinforcements carried out joint fire response, integrated air defense training, counter-landing defense, counterterrorism response and support for civilian evacuation drills.
Reflecting changes in modern warfare and lessons learned from combat analysis, the exercise also included field training exercises (FTX) and command post exercises (CPX) covering the installation of counter-drone barriers, resupply of repair parts using transport drones and unmanned surface vessels, and electromagnetic warfare training.
Do Il-sun, a lieutenant colonel who commands a battalion in the Yeonpyeong unit, said, "With airtight and firm operational readiness, we will fulfill our calling to defend the northwestern islands at all costs under any circumstances."