AKIPRESS.COM - The largest multilateral military exercise in the Asia-Pacific has kicked off in Thailand. The exercise, attended by some 27 countries this year including Mongolia, comes amid rising tension in the region following North Korea's latest rocket launch, reports The Courier Mail.
A total of 8,564 soldiers are involved, with seven countries fully participating – Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the U.S.
Mongolia is among nine other countries participating in multinational planning. The others are Bangladesh, Canada, France, England, Italy, Australia, Nepal and the Philippines.
China and India are taking part in conducting humanitarian civic action projects.
The Cobra Gold military exercise has been held annually in Thailand for more than three decades. It will continue in several provinces in the Central Plains and the East until February 19.