SEOUL, (Reuters): South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual joint military exercise, Freedom Shield, from March 9 to 19, military officials said on Wednesday. Officials described the exercise as defensive in nature, although it has long drawn criticism from North Korea, which denounces the drills as a rehearsal for invasion.
The exercise will support preparations for the planned transfer of U.S. wartime operational control to South Korea. Previous drills, including last year’s, involved multi-domain and command-post training to enhance readiness. South Korea aims to complete the transfer of military command from the U.S. before President Lee Jae Myung’s term ends in 2030.
Officials said next month’s drills will include deterrence scenarios related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
President Lee has sought to improve relations with North Korea, but Pyongyang has rejected those efforts. South Korean media reported that Seoul proposed scaling back field training during Freedom Shield to support diplomatic outreach, though discussions with the U.S. are ongoing and adjustments are still under consideration.
North Korea is currently holding the ruling Workers’ Party’s Ninth Congress, a major political event that analysts say could conclude with a military parade in Pyongyang showcasing its latest military capabilities.
