SEOUL—The United States and South Korea will undertake large-scale military exercises in March, including amphibious landings, according to officials from both nations on Friday.
The "Freedom Shield" drills will be undertaken from March 13 to March 23 to reinforce the partners' joint defense posture, according to a statement published during a briefing in Seoul by the two military.
"Freedom Shield is designed to strengthen the Alliance's defense and response capabilities by focusing within the exercise scenario on things such as the changing security environment, DPRK aggression, and lessons learned from recent wars and conflicts," the allies said, using the initials of North Korea's official name.
The two armies conducted a joint air practice on Friday, involving at least one American B-1B long-range bomber and South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter aircraft, according to South Korea's defense ministry.
According to the ministry, the goal was to rehearse cooperation as well as display US "extended deterrence" against North Korean threats.
In the past, such maneuvers have elicited harsh reactions from North Korea, including missile testing and nuclear threats.
North Korea claims that such combined military drills demonstrate that the US and its allies are hostile and focused on regime change in the North.
Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesperson for the United States, was questioned about the North's reaction. The drills, according to the United States Forces Korea (USFK), were normal and strictly defensive.
North Korea, according to South Korean authorities, also conducts yearly winter drills.
Freedom Shield will include field drills on a scale not seen since around 2017, before to the departure of former U.S. President Donald Trump reduced public drills in order to encourage talks with North Korea.
Then, talks with North Korea faltered, and COVID-19 limits limited drills in recent years.
With North Korea launching a record number of missiles last year and South Korea suspending anti-pandemic measures, the allies are resuming to large-scale drills.
For the last month, South Korean and American special operations personnel participated in a live-fire exercise called "Teak Knife," which involved a U.S. For the first time, an AC-130J gunship took part in joint exercises, launching guided missiles and bombs as well as 30 mm and 105 mm cannons.
