The Republic of Korea Navy provided 10,000 facial masks and 2,000 units of hand sanitizers to the Philippines last Tuesday to express gratitude to the country for fighting alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War.
According to the Republic of Korea military, the Navy’s task group is on an annual cruise training and delivered the Philippines’ antivirus items through Conrado Yap ship in waters near Manila.
The Republic of Korea Navy’s task group, a 4,400-ton destroyer Kang Gam-chan ( DDH-979) and the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang (AOE-51), set sail for a 72-day journey from the southern island Jeju last month with 540 sailors, including 147 naval cadets, aboard.
The group initially planned to make its first call in Manila, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the Republic of Korea Navy held a joint maritime exercise with the Philippines’ BRP Conrado Yap PS-39. After the delivery of essentials, the two countries’ navies conducted joint maritime drills.
The Filipino patrol ship was named after a late Army captain who was killed during the Korean war. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the war’s outbreak.
The Philippine Air Force also conducted a passing exercise that included a low-altitude flyby of the FA-50PH Fighting Eagles.
“When the Korean War broke out, the Philippines was the first among Asian countries to send ground forces to support us. Blooming young people were sacrificed while fighting to protect the freedom of South Korea,” R. Adm. Kim Gyeong-Cheol, chief of the group, said, vowing to forever remember their sacrifice.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201117004451325
