South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual Freedom Shield combined military exercise, a large-scale drill aimed at strengthening the allies' readiness and deterrence capabilities, from Monday to March 21, military authorities announced Thursday.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, this year’s Freedom Shield exercise will incorporate realistic threat scenarios reflecting North Korea’s recent military tactics and strategic shifts, including its growing partnership with Russia and ongoing global armed conflicts.
"The exercise will include scenarios simulating North Korea’s evolving warfare strategies, such as drone attacks, GPS jamming and cyber warfare, reflecting lessons from Pyongyang’s recent military deployment in Russia," Col. Lee Seong-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, said at a press conference held in Yongsan, central Seoul.
Asked whether the drills would include scenarios responding to the potential use of nuclear weapons by North Korea, Lee explained that the training would focus on ensuring readiness in the face of escalating nuclear threats.
The press conference also addressed questions about potential shifts in Washington’s security commitments and their impact on the future of the South Korea-US alliance, as this Freedom Shield exercise will be the first in President Donald Trump's second administration.
Col. Ryan Donald, spokesperson for US Forces Korea, reassured reporters that "the US-South Korea alliance is stronger than ever," emphasizing the allies' continued commitment to enhancing military preparedness and interoperability.
Regarding the transfer of wartime operational control from the US to South Korea, Donald declined to comment, suggesting that inquiries be directed to the White House. Lee reaffirmed that "the transition of wartime operational control will proceed in accordance with preestablished conditions," noting that joint assessments of these conditions will take place during the upcoming drills.
The JCS also stated that United Nations Command member states would participate in Freedom Shield, while the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission would monitor compliance with the 1953 Korean War Armistice Agreement to ensure the exercise’s defensive nature.
During the exercise, the allies will conduct field training drills across all domains, including land, sea, air, cyber and space operations, with approximately 19,000 South Korean troops participating.
Meanwhile, all live-fire exercises were suspended following an incident in which two South Korean Air Force KF-16s accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during a joint air drill with US Forces Korea and the South Korean Army earlier in the day.
The Defense Ministry said the suspension will remain in effect pending the completion of the investigation, while the rest of the Freedom Shield exercise is to continue as planned.
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