South Korea's ROKS Munmu the Great to join US fleet review, multinational naval drills
Synopsis
South Korea's ROKS Munmu the Great is heading to the US for a 100-ship international fleet review in New York and multinational drills in Norfolk — while Seoul's defence chief simultaneously pushes Washington on OPCON transfer and nuclear submarine acquisition. It is a rare moment where naval pageantry and hard strategic bargaining are happening in the same week.
Key Takeaways
ROKS Munmu the Great , a 4,400-ton South Korean destroyer, departed Jeju Island on 11 May for a two-month overseas deployment.
The ship will join approximately 100 naval vessels from around 50 countries at an international fleet review in New York on 3–8 July .
Multinational field training hosted by the US Second Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia will involve around 30 vessels from 18 countries , including Brazil, France, and Britain.
Port calls in Mexico , Colombia , and San Diego will include promotional activities for South Korean naval systems and Korean War veterans' tributes.
South Korea's and the US's top defence chiefs held talks in Washington on Monday on OPCON transfer and Seoul's bid for nuclear-powered submarines .
South Korea's ROKS Munmu the Great, a 4,400-ton naval destroyer, will participate in an international fleet review in New York and a multinational field exercise off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, over the next two months, the South Korean Navy announced on Monday, 11 May. The deployment marks one of the most high-profile overseas naval engagements by Seoul this year.
Fleet Review in New York
The ROKS Munmu the Great departed a naval base on Jeju Island on Monday to sail toward New York, where an international fleet review is scheduled for 3–8 July. The warship will be among approximately 100 naval vessels from around 50 countries, including Canada, Britain, Japan, and Spain. The scale of the review underscores the growing multilateral character of naval diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic theatres.
Multinational Field Training in Virginia
Ahead of the fleet review, the destroyer will participate in multinational field training at the end of next month off the east coast of Norfolk, Virginia, home to a major US naval base. The exercise will be hosted by the US Second Fleet, which oversees operations along the East Coast and across the North Atlantic Ocean. Around 30 naval vessels from 18 countries — including Brazil, France, and Britain — are expected to join the drills.
Port Calls and Diplomatic Outreach
Named after a king of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD), the Munmu the Great will also conduct promotional activities for South Korean naval ships and weapons systems during port calls in Mexico and Colombia. On its return voyage, the destroyer plans to stop at the Colombian city of Cartagena and San Diego in the United States to honour veterans who fought alongside South Korea during the 1950–53 Korean War. This combination of military diplomacy and veterans' outreach reflects Seoul's broader effort to deepen defence ties across the Americas.
US-South Korea Defence Talks
Separately, the top defence chiefs of South Korea and the United States were set to hold talks in Washington on Monday, focusing on two critical issues: advancing the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, and South Korea's push to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The OPCON transfer has been a long-standing point of negotiation between the two allies, with Seoul keen to assert greater autonomy over its military command structure. The submarine ambition signals Seoul's intent to project deeper maritime deterrence capability in the region.
Point of View
Signalling that Seoul's defence diplomacy is no longer confined to the Indo-Pacific. Whether Washington responds on submarines will be the real story to watch.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ROKS Munmu the Great and where is it headed?
The ROKS Munmu the Great is a 4,400-ton South Korean naval destroyer named after a king of the Silla Kingdom. It departed Jeju Island on 11 May 2025 for a two-month deployment that includes a fleet review in New York and multinational exercises off Norfolk, Virginia.
What is the international fleet review in New York about?
The fleet review, scheduled for 3–8 July in New York, brings together approximately 100 naval vessels from around 50 countries including Canada, Britain, Japan, and Spain. It is a major multilateral naval gathering that South Korea is participating in as part of its broader defence diplomacy.
What is the US Second Fleet exercise in Norfolk?
The multinational field training hosted by the US Second Fleet off Norfolk, Virginia, will involve around 30 naval vessels from 18 countries including Brazil, France, and Britain. It is scheduled for the end of next month, ahead of the New York fleet review.
What are South Korea and the US discussing in their defence talks?
South Korea and US defence chiefs met in Washington on Monday to discuss the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul and South Korea's bid to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Both issues are central to Seoul's long-term defence autonomy strategy.
Why is the Munmu the Great making port calls in Latin America?
The destroyer will stop in Mexico, Colombia, and San Diego to promote South Korean naval ships and weapons systems, and to honour veterans who fought alongside South Korea in the 1950–53 Korean War. The visits reflect Seoul's growing defence diplomacy outreach across the Americas.
