By Kim Hyun-soo

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Navy's participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise has been a "valuable" opportunity to strengthen its capability to lead and execute combined maritime operations, a Navy admiral said Wednesday.

Rear Adm. Kim In-ho made the remarks in an online briefing after he served as the commander of the combined maritime component forces of this year's U.S.-led RIMPAC running from June 24 to July 31. South Korea has become the first Asian country and the fourth nation outside the United States to assume the role.

"By taking part in RIMPAC, the ROK Navy continues to strengthen its ability to conduct combined operations. In this sense, RIMPAC give(s) us a valuable opportunity to further improve our ability to lead and carry out combined maritime operations," Kim said, using the acronym of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Experts said taking part in multinational military drills, such as RIMPAC, would help South Korea improve its capabilities to lead the combined forces once it retakes the wartime operational control (OPCON) from the U.S.

"RIMPAC is not a training exercise specifically designed for the transfer of wartime operational control. Through RIMPAC and other combined exercises, the ROK Navy will continue to improve our ability to plan and command combined operations following the transition," he added.

The U.S.-led joint maritime exercise took place in and around Hawaii, bringing together over 25,000 personnel from 31 nations, including South Korea.

sookim@yna.co.kr

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