Acording to the Korea Herald South Korean and US troops are set to commence their annual military drills next week, expanded in response to the evolving nuclear threats posed by North Korea, announced both countries this week. This move is likely to provoke North Korea, which perceives the joint training of its adversaries as a rehearsal for invasion.
The South Korean and US militaries jointly disclosed on Wednesday that they will conduct the Freedom Shield exercise, a computer-simulated command post training, along with various separate field training exercises from March 4-14.
In recent months, North Korea has escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula with fiery rhetoric and ongoing missile tests. While a full-scale attack by North Korea against South Korea and the US seems improbable, observers suggest that the North might engage in limited provocations along the tense border with South Korea.
Colonel Lee Sung-Jun, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed reporters that these drills aim to enhance joint capabilities to deter North Korea from employing its nuclear weapons. He mentioned that the allies plan to carry out 48 field exercises this spring, double the number conducted last year, which will include air assault, live-firing, and bombing training.
Colonel Isaac L. Taylor, a spokesperson for the US military, reiterated that the exercises are defensive in nature and emphasized the importance of a high readiness level in maintaining deterrence.
North Korea has not yet responded to the announcement of the drills, but in the past, it has reacted to major South Korea-US military exercises with missile tests of its own.
Since 2022, North Korea has significantly escalated its weapons testing activities as part of its efforts to expand its nuclear and missile arsenals. This year alone, the North has conducted six rounds of missile tests, with five reportedly involving cruise missiles, in addition to other weapons launches.
Lee, the South Korean military spokesperson, mentioned that the upcoming drills would include training to detect and intercept North Korean cruise missiles. Analysts believe that in the event of a conflict, North Korea might use cruise missiles to target incoming US warships and military installations in Japan. Previous weapons tests by North Korea in 2022 and 2023 mainly focused on ballistic missile systems.
Experts suggest that North Korea perceives a larger weapons arsenal as a means to exert pressure on the US and South Korea to make concessions, such as sanctions relief, when diplomatic negotiations resume. They anticipate North Korea to intensify its testing activities and other provocations this year, particularly as the US and South Korea approach major elections.
In response to North Korea’s testing spree, South Korea and the US have expanded their bilateral military drills and engaged in trilateral exercises involving Japan. US and South Korean officials have repeatedly warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea would lead to the downfall of Kim Jong Un’s government.