[Yang Nakgyu's Defence Photo] Marine Corps Island Defense Exercise in the Northwest Islands

The Marine Corps Headquarters and the Northwest Islands Defense Command are conducting the 2026 second-half joint island defense exercise around the northwestern islands, including Baengnyeongdo and Yeonpyeongdo, as part of the Hoguk Exercise. Led by the Northwest Islands Defense Command under the command of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the annual exercise brings together joint forces from supporting operational commands to test their integrated response capabilities and maintain defense capabilities and readiness for the northwestern islands.

The Marine Corps Headquarters and the Northwest Islands Defense Command, along with the Ground Operations Command, Naval Operations Command, Air Force Operations Command, and Army Aviation Command, are participating in the exercise, which involves around 6,000 troops, naval vessels, aircraft, and drones. The exercise began with the deployment of reinforcement forces, including the Marine Corps Rapid Deployment Force, to the northwestern islands to respond to complex provocations such as enemy firepower, high-speed aircraft, cruise missiles, and suicide drones. The reinforcement forces conducted joint firepower response drills, integrated air defense drills, anti-amphibious landing defense drills, counterterrorism response drills, and support for civilian evacuation drills. Reflecting changes in modern warfare and analyses of lessons learned, the exercise will also include field training exercises (FTX) and command post exercises (CPX) on installing anti-drone protective structures, resupplying repair parts using transport drones and unmanned surface vessels, and electronic warfare.

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