MANILA – In commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the Republic of Korea Navy Cruise Training Task Group (CTTG) led by Commander RDML Cho Choong-Ho, on board the training ship ROKS Hansando and its combat support ship Hwacheon is in Manila for a port call and goodwill visit from December 27, 2023 to January 2, 2024.
This is confirmed in a press statement by the CTTG and released by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines, saying that the port call is the 28th visit of the CTTG to the Philippines, the highest record for port calls made amongst Asian countries.
(Photo courtesy of ROK Embassy in the PH)
The officers and crew of both vessels were welcomed in Manila by Captain Edilberto O. Balduman of the Philippine Navy and Minister and Consul-General Sang Seung Man of the ROK Embassy in the Philippines, together with Defense Attache’ Kim Jaisuk and First Secretary Cho Seonghyeon.
(Photo courtesy: ROK Embassy in the PH)
Meantime, the 460 sailors, including 150 midshipmen from the 78th class of ROK Naval Academy are expected to join a series of activities while in the Philippines, including joint exercises with the Philippine Navy.
“In the morning of December 28th, the CTTG will visit Korean War Memorial located in the Cemetery of the Heroes for a wreath laying ceremony and then a visit to the Korean War Memorial Hall to honor the noble sacrifice of the Korean War veterans,” the statement said.
There will also be a joint cultural performance of both Navies’ Navy Bands and Honor Guards in Rizal Park in Manila on the 29th of December, where the CTTG will conduct Honor Guard demonstration, a magic show, Samulnori (a genre of percussion music that originated in Korea) and a Taekwondo demonstration.
The CTTG is also scheduled to visit the Philippine Navy Fleet by touring the Philippine Navy Special Operations Command and will be hosting receptions to “strengthen the close friendship between the ROK Navy and the Philippine Navy,” the statement added.
In addition to this, the CTTG will host a Defense Industry Exhibition on board the ROKS Hwacheon in tandem with the ROK ship tour during the port call in Manila where visitors, including the Philippine Navy sailors can see the latest in Korean Defense Industry and the ROK Navy Sea GHOST (Navy Sea Guardian Harmonized with Operating Manned Systems and Technology-based unmanned system).
To cap off the visit, the CTTG and the Philippine Navy will be conducting a combined exercise or PASSEX (Passing Exercise in US Navy terminology) with BRP Jose Rizal to strengthen the relationship between the two Navies slated on January 3, 2024.
A PASSEX is defined as an exercise done between two navies to ensure that participating navies are able to effectively communicate and cooperate in times of war or humanitarian relief by undergoing common drills such as flashing light drills, semaphore drills and flaghoist drills.
The ROKN Cruise Training started in 1954 with the ninth class of ROKNA midshipmen. According to the CTTG, 1st class (senior) midshipmen participate in the ocean navigation training “to familiarize with ships and to develop mission accomplishment skills” before being commissioned as naval officers.
