German East Asia Squadron
However, on March 14, 1914, the status of the Ryojun Naval District was reduced to that of a third echelon naval port, or . It served as a staging point and refueling base in World War I for operations against the Imperial German Navy’s German East Asia Squadron based out of Tsingtao. With the Allied victory in World War I eliminating the German threat and with the Washington Naval Treaty limiting naval forces, Ryojun Military Port was deactivated on December 1, 1922.