Australian soldiers head for South Korea

Australian soldiers will head to South Korea next month for large scale amphibious landing exercises alongside Korean and US troops.

Around 150 Australian soldiers, including infantry, a joint fire team, combat engineers and medics will participate in the Exercise Ssang Yong, the largest training activity involving the Australian army and the Republic of Korea.

This annual event generally sparks a bellicose response from North Korea which regards this as a rehearsal for an invasion.

About 60 New Zealand defence force personnel will also participate in the exercise for the first time.

It will be the 16th annual Exercise Ssang Yong - meaning twin dragons - which in past years has involved more than 10,000 US Marines, US Navy personnel and ROK troops.

It is important training for the Australian Defence Force, which is now developing its capability to conduct amphibious operations from its two new large landing ships.

Defence said an army combat team would join members of the US Marine Corps.

"Operating from USMC landing ships, the combat team will take part in a series of amphibious exercises on the Korean Peninsula," it said.