[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence photo] ROK-US Marine Corps Winter Training

South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps personnel are conducting a joint winter training exercise. According to the Marine Corps, this training, conducted as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Korea Marine Expeditionary Program (KMEP), aims to master 23 tasks across three phases: 'Winter Specialty Training,' 'Snow Mobility Training,' and 'Korea-U.S. Tactical Training.' Approximately 110 personnel participated, including about 70 from the South Korean Marine Corps reconnaissance unit and around 40 from the 4th Regiment of the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Division.

The first phase, Winter Specialty Training, focused on developing individual and team winter survival skills in snowy terrain, including shelter construction and snow camouflage. The second phase, Snow Mobility Training, involved wearing alpine and telemark equipment to practice mobility and tactical maneuvers. The third phase, Korea-U.S. Tactical Training, concentrated on mastering mission procedures and combat techniques for winter deep-area operations teams.

The deep-area operations team refers to a unit that supports friendly close-area operations by isolating, delaying, blocking, intercepting, and annihilating enemy units and follow-up forces that have not yet made contact, preventing their forward movement and reinforcement, thereby denying the enemy numerical superiority in combat power.