Republic of Korea Navy Dosan Ahn Changho (SS 038) departs Pearl Harbor to begin RIMPAC 2026 sea phase

The Republic of Korea Navy attack submarine Dosan Ahn Changho (SS 038) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 7, 2026, to begin the sea phase of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise, involving 30 nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft, and 30,000 personnel. The exercise runs from June 24 to July 31, 2026, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC 2026 marks the 30th iteration of the series, which began in 1971. The exercise aims to provide a unique training opportunity while fostering cooperative relationships among participants to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.

Global Impact

Politically, RIMPAC reinforces alliances and interoperability among participating nations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Economically, the exercise has a modest local impact on Hawaii through spending on logistics and services.