 Negotiations for the return of the ships were protracted, but on 1 November 1949 the Soviet Union finally returned "EK-18" to the U.S. Navy at Yokosuka, Japan.Reverting to her original name, "Rockford" lay idle in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Yokosuka until the United States loaned her to the Republic of Korea on 23 October 1950 for Korean War service in enforcing the United Nations blockade against North Korea and harassing enemy forces.She served the Republic of Korea Navy as ROKS "Apnok" (62).