Overview

• The drill occurred in the Sea of Japan on July 17 with no public announcement or landings on Dokdo.
• Only navy and maritime police vessels participated, with no air force assets deployed.
• The exercise follows the same biannual non-public format maintained since mid-2021 under the Yoon administration.
• South Korea regards these maneuvers as routine readiness drills to affirm its sovereignty claims over the islets.
• Japan’s foreign ministry issued a formal protest on July 18, labeling the exercise unacceptable.