▲ ROK Marine Corps participates in 'Khaan Quest,' a multinational UN PKO exercise held in Mongolia
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps announced today (July 3) that it has participated in 'Khaan Quest,' a multinational United Nations peacekeeping exercise held in Mongolia.
Twenty-one soldiers from the Marine Corps' 2nd Rapid Response Division, which performs duties as a standing overseas deployment unit, along with one medical personnel, participated in the '2026 Khaan Quest' exercise held at the Five Hills Training Area in Mongolia from June 20 to July 3.
Together with multinational forces, they honed their combined operational capabilities by mastering tactical tasks for UN peacekeeping operations, including the operation of fixed and mobile checkpoints, response to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), combat casualty care, and counter-drone operations.
The South Korean military also served as instructors for the tasks involving the operation of fixed and mobile checkpoints and combat casualty care.
The Marine Corps explained that the effectiveness of the training was enhanced by utilizing K2C1 rifles equipped with the Marine Corps' 'Warrior Platform,' which includes personal firearm sights, high-performance magnifiers, and laser target designators.
The Khaan Quest exercise began in 2003 as a joint exercise between the U.S. Pacific Command and the Mongolian Armed Forces, and has been expanded into a multinational PKO exercise since 2006.
This year, approximately 700 personnel from 17 countries, including the United States, Mongolia, India, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, and Germany, participated.
The South Korean military first participated in 2006 by joining as training instructors at the request of the U.S. Pacific Command and the Mongolian military. Since 2014, the Marine Corps has participated in even-numbered years, while the Special Forces have participated in odd-numbered years.
Meanwhile, General Xavier Brunson, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea, also attended this year's Khaan Quest exercise for the first time.
According to the United States Forces Korea website, General Brunson visited the training site in Mongolia on June 30 to meet with the troops.
A USFK official explained that as the Combined Forces Commander, he observed the South Korean Marine Corps developing interoperability with allies and partner nations while participating in the multinational PKO exercise and communicated with the troops on the ground.
(Photo: Courtesy of ROK Marine Corps, Yonhap News)
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