YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Vessels and aircraft from the United States Navy, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will conduct a trilateral anti-submarine exercise Apr. 4-6 (Korea/Japan standard time) in seas in the vicinity of Korea and Japan to promote communications, interoperability, and partnership in the 7th Fleet area of operations.

The exercise will consist of: submarine search, fix, and tracking; high-value unit protection and anti-submarine defense maneuvers. The exercise is being executed on the heels of Exercise Foal Eagle 2017, an annual joint and combined field training exercise conducted by Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea components. The additional training will allow participants to enhance tactical maritime capabilities, strengthen cooperation, and improve shared situational awareness.

The U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build maritime partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict.