11 Feb 2015

NZ joins Guam military exercise

6:56 am on 11 February 2015

New Zealand is taking part in this year's Cope North multinational military exercise on Guam for the first time.

New Zealand and South Korea are taking part in this year's Cope North multinational military exercise on Guam for the first time.

The Pacific Daily News reports that the exercise will start on February 15th and continue through to the 27th and will involve about 2,000 military personnel.

About 100 aircraft from the US, Japan and Australia will also participate.

New Zealand's Air Force is participating in Cope North's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training.

It will also be the first time that the US, South Korean and New Zealand Air Forces will conduct multilateral personnel recovery and search and rescue operations.

Guam has hosted the exercise for 15 years, prior to 1999 it was held in Japan.