Lippert helps honor Naval unit’s anniversary
U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert, left, shakes hands with Korean Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Jung Ho-sup as they celebrate Korea’s elite UDT/SEAL unit’s 60th anniversary in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang. [The Navy]
In his key note speech at the seminar, Lippert, a U.S. Navy veteran, lauded the elite UDT/SEAL (Underwater Demolition Team/Sea, Air, Land) unit’s successful special operations “not only on the Korean Peninsula but in the Gulf of Aden.”
In 2011, UDT/SEALs commandos took part in the Operation Dawn mission to successfully rescue the crew of a Korean freighter hijacked for six days by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The Korean Navy has stepped up measures to protect the waters around the Gulf of Aden, deploying yearly the anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit on a destroyer. However, it also is known for its rescue and salvage missions, like after the sinking of the Seohae ferry in 1993, and the torpedoing of the South Korean Cheonan warship in 2010.
The ROK Navy Special Warfare (NSWF) 60th Anniversary Seminar was held in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang, to mark the founding of the elite UDT/SEAL unit on Nov. 9, 1955. It was attended by top Korean military brass, including Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Jung Ho-sup.
Lippert previously served as an intelligence officer with the U.S. Navy SEALs, which heavily influenced Korea’s UDT/SEAL unit.
The U.S. Navy Seals helped fund and provide expertise to Korea’s UDT/SEAL. The two units continue to maintain a strong relationship and conduct joint training sessions.
BY HYUN IL-HOON, SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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