Five participants died just 10 days into the 45-day training from causes including cardiac arrest, heat stroke, tuberculosis and pneumonia, according to the defence ministry. 

South Korea's World Cup elimination also earned the team a rebuke from the country's president Lee Jae Myung, who pointed the finger at "incompetent people" and apologised to the nation.

Among them are the National Institute for Defense Studies and Mitsubishi Electric Defense and Space Technologies Corporation, said China's commerce ministry.

Equity markets fluctuated, with Hong Kong, Manila, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington up but Jakarta, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo down.