S. Korea, US begin joint military drill to bolster defense
South Korea and the United States on Monday embarked on an annual joint military drill, a large-scale exercise designed to strengthen their combined defense posture through all-domain operations, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
The Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled to run for 11 days through March 19, will incorporate realistic threats and lessons learned from recent conflicts to enhance the allies’ readiness as well as the field training exercise dubbed “Warrior Shield,” according to the JCS and US Forces Korea.
The two militaries plan to conduct 22 field training drills, less than half of the 51 conducted in last year’s springtime exercise under then President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative administration.
The JCS said that, although there is no specific scenario for North Korea’s use of nuclear weapons in this exercise, the allies are planning training focused on deterring nuclear threats.
The exercise will also support preparations for a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea, in line with alliance agreements.
Several member states of the UN Command overseeing the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War are expected to take part in the exercise, while the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will observe the drills to monitor compliance with the armistice agreement.
