Navy chief inspects joint S. Korea-U.S. drill aboard U.S. amphibious assault ship

South Korea's Navy chief inspected an ongoing joint amphibious landing exercise between the South and the United States on Wednesday aboard a U.S. amphibious assault ship, his office said. Adm. Yang Yong-mo, chief of naval operations, visited the Combined Maritime Operation Center at a key naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and was briefed on the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise set to conclude Thursday. Yang also boarded the USS Boxer currently docked at the base to take part in the Ssang Yong amphibious landing exercise, which kicked off Monday for a 13-day run, involving the allies' Marines and naval forces. Yang called for strengthening the allies' defense posture as he described their assets mobilized for the exercise as being enough to instill fear in the enemy, his office said. The Wasp-class USS Boxer amphibious assault ship is capable of carrying amphibious landing craft and various helicopters and aircraft, including the F-35B stealth fighter. Source: Yonhap News Agen cy