South Korea Joins U.S. Space Force War Game for the First Time

The South Korean Air Force will participate in a U.S.-led multinational space war game this week, marking its first involvement in such an exercise. The tabletop drill, dubbed Partner to Win, is designed to strengthen joint operational capabilities in the space domain.

The exercise runs Monday through Friday local time in Florida. It brings together delegations from the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Brazil and the United States alongside South Korea, according to the armed service.

Partner to Win was newly launched by the U.S. Space Force this year. It aims to enhance operational readiness in joint space missions and strengthen coordination with partner countries on relevant policy and strategy-setting. The war game proceeds as a tabletop exercise, where each national delegation discusses cooperation and response measures to handle simulated, complex crises in space.

Through its participation, the South Korean Air Force seeks to expand the extent of cooperation in the space sector with allies. It also aims to gain a foothold in leading multinational joint space missions in the future, officials said Monday.

South Korea's involvement signals a deeper step into coalition space operations for Seoul. The Air Force framed the exercise as an opportunity to broaden allied cooperation and position itself for a leading role in future multinational space missions.

The exercise continues through Friday local time in Florida.