S. Korea, Japan hold joint maritime search drills for 1st time in 9 years

South Korea and Japan on Sunday held a joint maritime search and rescue exercise (SAREX) for the first time in nine years, the Navy said.

The drill was conducted by the South Korean Navy and Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force in international waters southeast of Jeju Island, according to the Navy.

The exercise involved the Navy's 4,900-ton ROKS Cheon Ja Bong landing ship, Japan's 7,250-ton Aegis-equipped Kongo destroyer and a Japanese maritime patrol helicopter.

Launched in 1999, the biennial S