Will Hold Large-Scale Military Exercises This Month, South Korea And The US Focus On North Korea's Aggression

South Korean and US military exercises. (Source: ROKAF)

JAKARTA - The United States and South Korea will hold large-scale military exercises for more than 10 days in March, including amphibious landings, officials of the two countries said on Friday.

The exercise titled "Freedom Shield" will be held from March 13 to March 23 to strengthen the combined defense posture of the two countries, the two military said in a statement released at a briefing in Seoul.

"Freedom Shield is designed to strengthen the defense capabilities and response of the Alliance by focusing the training scenario on things like changes in the security environment, the DPRK aggression and lessons learned from recent wars and conflicts," the two allies said, referring to North Korea with its initials. official name, reported Reuters March 3.

On Friday, the two militaries conducted joint air exercises with at least one American B-1B long-range bomber and South Korea's F-15K and KF-16 fighters, the South Korean defense ministry said in a statement.

The goal is to train coordination and demonstrate "larger silting power" from America against North Korea's threats, the ministry said.

Such exercises in the past have drawn sharp reactions from North Korea, including missile tests and nuclear threats.

North Korea says such joint military exercises are evidence that the United States and its allies are hostile and determined to change the regime in North Korea.

When asked about North Korea's reaction, Colonel Isaac Taylor, spokesman for US Troops in Korea (USFK) said the drills were routinely and purely defensive.

The plan, "Freedom Shield" will feature an unprecedented scale field exercise since around 2017, before former US President Donald Trump reduced public exercises to facilitate diplomacy with North Korea.

Over the past month, South Korean and US special operations forces conducted a shootout called "Teak Knives", involving US AC-130J fighters, who participated in joint exercises for the first time, firing guided missiles and bombs as well as 30 mm and 105 mm rifles.

Separately, South Korean officials noted that North Korea is also conducting annual winter exercises.