ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 15, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - November 15, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Japan, U.S., South Korea Begin Second Trilateral Exercise in East China Sea with Upcoming Trilateral Meeting at APEC Summit in Peru
• China Opens Megaport of Chancay in Peru
• Houthis Attack U.S. Military Ships in the Red Sea

Japan, U.S., South Korea Begin Second Trilateral Exercise in East China Sea with Upcoming Trilateral Meeting at APEC Summit in Peru

South Korea, the United States, and Japan are displaying joint deterrence against threats posed by North Korea amid its deepening alignment with Russia. The three-day exercise took place in international waters south of South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju, around four months after the inaugural exercise was conducted in accordance with an agreement reached by the leaders of the nations last year. The second round of the Freedom Edge exercise mobilized various warships and aircraft, including the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier as well as F-35 stealth fighters, the South's ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyer and Japan's JS Haguro destroyer. President Yoon Seok-yeol is scheduled to hold a summit with the current U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Peru. This meeting is the first summit meeting between President Yoon, outgoing President Biden, and recently inaugurated Prime Minister Ishiba, and is expected to reaffirm the importance of trilateral cooperation.

China Opens Megaport of Chancay in Peru

On November 14, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the Chancay deep-water port during his week-long Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, opening up a new entry to resource-rich South America and significantly reducing the trans-Pacific transit time. The megaport of Chancay, a USD 3.5 billion project majority-backed by the Chinese shipping giant Cosco, encompasses 15 quays and a large industrial park and is a crucial link in the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) for China to increase its influence in the region. Chancay port will shave at least 10 days off what was previously a 35-day voyage to China from Peru and vessels will no longer require a stopover at Mexico’s Manzanilla port or California’s Long Beach. The megaport will benefit other South American countries as vessels from Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia would be able to ship goods to Peru’s other ports. Chancay is set to become a major trade hub for imports of China’s electronics, textiles and other consumer goods and for the export of minerals such as lithium—a metal used for making electronics batteries from Chile and copper from both Chile and Peru.

Houthis Attack U.S. Military Ships in the Red Sea

The U.S. military reported that two of its warships in the Red Sea had repelled an attack from Yemen’s Houthi militia, with multiple missiles and drones shot down before reaching their targets. A Houthi spokesperson also reported launching an attack on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, though U.S. sources reported having no knowledge of such an operation. There was no damage to the targeted ships. The attack came several days after United States and British forces conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.