South Korea

South Korea, US to hold largest live-fire drills amid North Korea tension

Reuters

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South Korea, US to hold largest live-fire drills amid North Korea tension

JOINT DRILL. South Korean soldiers take part in a joint military drill which is a part of the Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and US, at a military training field near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, March 16, 2023.

Yonhap via REUTERS

'During the live-fire exercises, the combined forces will demonstrate the alliance's formidable firepower and mobility on an unprecedented scale,' says South Korea's defense ministry

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean and US forces will hold their largest-ever live-fire exercises in June in a show of force to North Korea, which has ratcheted up tension with numerous missile launches, South Korea’s defense ministry said on Wednesday, March 22.

The exercises are part of a series of events marking the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries this year.

“We’ve planned various anniversary programs focusing on realizing ‘peace through strength’ through action based on our strategic deterrence capabilities and the solid combined defense posture amid North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats,” the ministry said in a statement.

“During the live-fire exercises, the combined forces will demonstrate the alliance’s formidable firepower and mobility on an unprecedented scale.”

South Korea plans to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its military in September with a display by the allies’ forces of their “overwhelming deterrence and response capabilities” against the North, that will include South Korea’s missile defense system, the ministry said.

In recent weeks, North Korea has been ramping up its military tests, firing an intercontinental ballistic missile last week and conducting a nuclear counterattack simulation against the US and South Korea over the weekend.

The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

US and South Korean forces have been carrying out various types of military training in recent weeks including air and sea drills involving American B-1B bombers, and their first large-scale amphibious landing exercises in five years.

North Korea has reacted furiously to those drills, calling them a rehearsal for its invasion. – Rappler.com

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