The United States-led biennial maritime warfare exercise Rim of the Pacific began its five-week run off Hawaii on Thursday, bringing together 27 countries around the Pacific Ocean to increase their interoperability at sea.

This year's RIMPAC, the 25th time it has been held, is the largest ever in scale since the regional exercise was first held in 1971, according to officials here. Participating countries include South Korea, China, Japan and Singapore as well as European nations like Denmark, France, Germany and Britain.

South Korea has dispatched a captain-led team of three warships and three sea-borne aircraft along with 700 navy and marine troops, including naval special forces, according to the officials.

During the exercise that runs until Aug. 4, the South Korean Navy contingent is scheduled to perform as the sea combat commander of an expeditionary strike group composed of eight warships from the U.S., Japan, Canada and other countries.

The officials said the opportunity is expected to strengthen the South Korean Navy's external reputation and its war operability. 

During the exercise two South Korean warships, the 7,600-ton Aegis-equipped destroyer Sejong the Great and 4,500-ton destroyer Kang Gam Chan, will fire off their SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles.

After the exercise ends in early August, South Korea plans to hold a separate search and rescue exercise with the U.S., Japan and Australia's navies, the officials also said.

This year China has joined with five warships and some 1,200 troops, the third-largest contingent following the U.S. and Canada, although this only marks the Asian power's second participation in the U.S.-led exercise.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet, which operates the exercise, portrays RIMPAC as the world's largest international maritime exercise which provides a unique training opportunity to "ensure the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans." (Yonhap)