S. Korea, US launch Freedom Shield drill, first under Trump's 2nd term
South Korea and the United States militaries on Monday kicked off their annual Freedom Shield exercise, a large-scale combined drill aimed at strengthening the allies' readiness capabilities.
This year, the drill focuses on command post exercises based on computer simulations, assuming an all-out war against North Korea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"This year's scenario incorporates evolving North Korean tactics observed in its military activities, including the deployment of drones, GPS jamming and cyberattacks, particularly in relation to North Korea's military support for Russia," the JCS said.
The exercise includes field training exercises across South Korea, with the number of outdoor maneuvers increasing to 16 from 10 last year. Approximately 19,000 South Korean troops will participate.
The JCS also underscored the exercise's defensive nature, noting that member states of the United Nations Command are set to participate, while the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will monitor the drill to ensure compliance with the 1953 Korean War Armistice Agreement.
The exercise drew strong criticism from North Korea, which claimed it legitimizes Pyongyang's "strongest response measures" against the US.
In a statement released on Sunday, North Korea's Foreign Ministry condemned the drills as a continuation of Washington's "military hysteria," further asserting, "The US' reckless actions and irrational choices will ultimately undermine its own security."
Earlier this month, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said North Korea is seriously considering 'escalating strategic-level deterrence measures' when the USS Carl Vinson, a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, arrived at a port in Busan participate in the exercise.
South Korea's military stated that it is closely monitoring North Korea for potential provocations, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches or a seventh nuclear test, in cooperation with the US.
As of Monday, no unusual North Korean military activity had been detected, South Korea's Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu said during a press briefing in Seoul.
The Freedom Shield exercise will run through March 20.
Meanwhile, live-fire drills scheduled as part of the field training exercises have been canceled following an accident last Thursday, when two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs on a civilian area, injuring 29 people.
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