S. Korea observes multinational military exercise involving US, Japanese troops

South Korea is observing Keen Sword 2027, a multinational military exercise involving U.S. and Japanese troops in Japan, from Monday through Oct. 29. About 45,000 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel and 11,000 U.S. service members are participating, alongside forces from seven other countries. The exercise covers air and missile defense, logistics, maritime operations and other scenarios intended to improve interoperability and defensive coordination.

Keen Sword 2027 began with an opening ceremony on Ishigaki Island, Japan, and is the 18th iteration of the biennial exercise.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines are participating alongside Japan and the United States.

South Korea and Britain are participating as observers, according to the Pentagon.

Training includes facility protection and repair, casualty evacuation, information sharing and bilateral and multilateral scenarios under realistic conditions.

Published Oct 21, 2026 9:01 am KST

A general view of a fishing port at Kubura village, Yonaguni, Japan, Feb. 14, 2025. AP-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — South Korea is participating as an observer in a large-scale multinational military exercise involving some 56,000 U.S. and Japanese troops in Japan, according to the Pentagon Tuesday.

Keen Sword 2027 began Monday with an opening ceremony on Ishigaki Island, Japan, and will run through Oct. 29, the Pentagon said in a press release.

About 45,000 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel and 11,000 U.S. service members are taking part in the exercise, alongside forces from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines.

According to the Pentagon, South Korea and Britain are participating as observers.

The exercise marks the 18th iteration of the biennial field training event, which includes air and missile defense, facility protection and repair, logistics and resupply, casualty evacuation and maritime operations.

The training is designed to enhance interoperability, information sharing and defensive coordination among participating forces through bilateral and multilateral scenarios under realistic conditions, according to the statement.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. George Rowell, deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said the exercise would help participating forces strengthen their ability to deter aggression and respond to potential conflicts.

"Over the coming days, I have no doubt that we will train as one team to test our concepts, refine our command and control, and validate our ability to deter aggression and prevail in crisis or conflict," Rowell said.

从周一至10月29日，韩国正在日本观察“利剑2027”多国联合军事演习，此次演习由美日两国军队参与，在日本举行。约有4.5万名日本自卫队人员和1.1万名美军人员以及来自其他七个国家的军队参加。演习内容涵盖防空反导、后勤保障、海上作战等，旨在提升协同作战能力和防御协调性。

2027 年“利剑”演习在日本石垣岛举行了开幕式，这是这项两年一度的演习的第 18 届。

与日本和美国一起，澳大利亚、加拿大、法国、德国、荷兰、新西兰和菲律宾也参与其中。

据五角大楼称，韩国和英国将以观察员身份参加。

训练内容包括设施保护和维修、伤员疏散、信息共享以及在真实条件下进行的双边和多边情景演练。

发布于2026年10月21日上午9:01（韩国标准时间）

2025年2月14日，日本与那国岛久保良村渔港全景。（美联社-韩联社）

华盛顿——据五角大楼周二消息，韩国将以观察员身份参加在日本举行的大规模多国联合军事演习，该演习涉及约 56,000 名美国和日本士兵。

五角大楼在一份新闻稿中表示，2027 年“利剑”演习于周一在日本石垣岛举行开幕式，并将持续到 10 月 29 日。

约有45000名日本自卫队人员和11000名美国军人参加此次演习，此外还有来自澳大利亚、加拿大、法国、德国、荷兰、新西兰和菲律宾的部队。

据五角大楼称，韩国和英国将以观察员身份参加。

此次演习是两年一度的实地训练活动的第 18 次，内容包括防空和导弹防御、设施保护和维修、后勤和补给、伤员撤离和海上行动。

声明称，此次训练旨在通过在真实条件下进行双边和多边演练，加强参演部队之间的互操作性、信息共享和防御协调。

美国太平洋司令部副司令、美国海军陆战队中将乔治·罗威尔表示，此次演习将有助于参演部队加强其威慑侵略和应对潜在冲突的能力。

罗威尔说：“在接下来的几天里，我毫不怀疑我们将作为一个团队进行训练，以检验我们的理念，完善我们的指挥和控制，并验证我们阻止侵略和在危机或冲突中取得胜利的能力。”