Korean-Built KSS-III Submarine Begins Landmark Pacific Voyage to Canada

A next-generation South Korean submarine has set sail across the Pacific Ocean in what marks a significant step forward in defence cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Canada. The ROK Navy’s Dosan Ahn Changho, a KSS-III-class submarine built by Hanwha Ocean, departed Jinhae Naval Base on March 25, 2026, on a 14,000-kilometre journey that will culminate in its arrival in Victoria, British Columbia, in late May.

The deployment is the longest trans-Pacific voyage ever undertaken by a Korean submarine and is timed to coincide with a joint Republic of Korea–Canada naval cooperative exercise scheduled for June. It underscores the growing strategic partnership between the two nations in maritime security and highlights the advanced capabilities of South Korea’s indigenous submarine technology.

During the transit, the submarine will make logistical stops in Guam and Hawaii. In Hawaii, two Royal Canadian Navy submariners will board the vessel and join the ROK Navy crew for the final leg to Canada’s West Coast. Upon arrival in Esquimalt — the Canadian Navy’s primary Pacific home port just outside Victoria — the KSS-III will take part in joint exercises with Canadian forces and a series of engagement and outreach activities.

The Dosan Ahn Changho is South Korea’s first domestically designed 3,000-ton-class submarine, representing a leap in the country’s naval self-reliance. Last year, a KSS-III submarine successfully completed a month-long joint anti-submarine warfare exercise with the U.S. Navy in Guam, proving its ability to operate over extended ranges and integrate with allied forces.

This Pacific crossing further demonstrates the platform’s long-range endurance, advanced combat systems, and blue-water deployment capabilities. A symbolic seawater exchange ceremony was held at the departure: seawater from Korean waters will be carried across the ocean and mixed with Canadian seawater upon arrival, symbolizing the deepening bilateral ties.

The departure ceremony at Korea’s Submarine Command in Jinhae was attended by senior ROK defence officials and the Canadian Ambassador to Korea, reflecting the mission’s diplomatic importance.

The visit comes as Canada intensifies its focus on modernizing its underwater fleet. Lee Yong-cheol, Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration of the Republic of Korea, emphasized the broader significance:

“These kinds of operational deployments are critical in demonstrating not only naval capability and interoperability with NATO nations, but also the strength of Korea’s defence industry and its growing cooperation with partners such as Canada.”

Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Canada, highlighted the potential for future collaboration:
“This deployment provides a tangible demonstration of the submarine’s endurance and proven operational capability, and its ability to meet Canada’s underwater defence and security needs at the speed of delivery required. We look forward to engaging with Canadian stakeholders and demonstrating how Hanwha Ocean can support sovereign defence and sustainment capabilities in Canada through localization, transfer of technology, workforce development, and skills transfer.”

Further media opportunities related to the submarine’s arrival in late May will be announced in the coming weeks.

The trans-Pacific mission not only showcases South Korean naval innovation but also signals a new chapter in Canada–Korea defence relations — one built on shared maritime interests and practical operational cooperation in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security environment.