South Korea's frigate ROKS Daejeon wins top gunnery award at RIMPAC

The Republic of Korea Navy’s 3,100‑ton frigate ROKS Daejeon was named the top gunnery combat ship in the Naval Surface Fire Support Rodeo competition held during this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in Hawaii. The warship earned the highest points among 13 vessels from 10 nations on July 12, and the result was announced at the exercise’s closing ceremony.

It is the first time a South Korean warship has captured the prize in 16 years, the previous win being the destroyer King Sejong the Great in 2010. South Korea also served as commander of the Combined Force Maritime Component, becoming the first Asian nation and the fourth non‑U.S. participant to lead that element of RIMPAC. U.S. Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon highlighted the achievement as a historic leadership milestone for the Republic of Korea.