Canadian soldiers captured two Danish flags during their recent mission to Hans Island as a demonstration of Canada's sovereignty over the barren Arctic rock, according to previously classified military documents.
The series of mission documents -- some of which are labelled "SECRET Canadian Eyes Only" -- say the flags were later "examined and photographed" at the Canadian Forces Northern Area headquarters.
Both nations claim it as their sovereign territory. Negotiations over its ownership are ongoing.
The Danish military has made repeated visits to the island for decades, previously erecting a flagpole and the Danish flag. Pictures taken by Danish naval missions show the sailors in formation in front of the flag.
The July 13 mission, code-named Exercise Frozen Beaver in previous military documents but referred to as Operation Sovereign Inukshuk in the most recent release, was the Canadian Forces' first visit to the island.
The soldiers raised a metal Canadian flag and built an Inukshuk, a traditional Inuit marker.
Members of the Canadian Rangers, a largely aboriginal military unit, on the mission were armed with simple rifles and 20 rounds of ammunition each, according to the mission's operational orders.
