Joint US-South Korean military exercises aimed at countering North Korean aggression

The United States and South Korea have announced plans to conduct a series of military exercises in March, lasting more than 10 days. The “Freedom Shield” drills will involve amphibious landings and aim to strengthen the allies’ combined defensive posture against North Korean aggression. The exercises will also consider lessons learned from recent conflicts and changes in the security environment. In a combined air drill on Friday, an American B-1B long-range bomber and South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter aircraft participated to practice coordination and demonstrate “extended deterrence” against North Korean threats. The move could trigger a reaction from North Korea, as joint military exercises have done in the past. However, Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesman for US Forces Korea, stated that the drills were routine and purely defensive.