The first multinational Proliferation Security Initiative exercise, Eastern Endeavor 10, will be held in Busan and led by South Korea on 13-14 October.

The exercise will see participation from 14 countries and consist of a maritime interdiction exercise and a seminar to discuss the decision-making process in the US-led initiative, the South Korean Defence Ministry said.

The exercise aims to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and enhance South Korea’s status as a PSI member, according to the Chosun Ilbo.

South Korea will deploy two 4,500t KDX-II destroyers, two landing ship tanks, a 9,000t US Aegis ship, a 4,000t Japanese destroyer, and a P-3C Australian maritime patrol plane.

The PSI is a coalition of countries that aims to prevent ships from carrying weapons of mass destruction and related materials.