North Korea’s missile test before the start of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States; Photo: File
Seoul: The biggest joint military exercises between South Korea and the US forces have started, which North Korea protested a day ago by firing two missiles from a submarine in the open sea.
According to the international news organization, the military exercises of South Korea and the United States will continue for 11 days. The exercises include a computer simulation called Freedom Shield 23 and several joint field training exercises collectively known as Battle Shield FTX.
Before the drills began, South Korea and the United States said in a joint statement that the computer simulation was designed to strengthen the allies’ defense and response capabilities amid North Korea’s growing nuclear threats and other changing security environments.
The statement said that the military exercises will follow the largest-scale field exercise since Foal Eagle, which was last held in 2018, making it the largest military exercise between the two countries in five years.
A separate statement from the US military said the field exercises are aimed at improving the tactics, techniques and procedures of the two militaries while enhancing cooperation in air, land, naval, space, cyber and special operations.
As joint military exercises were announced last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered his troops to be ready to repulse the rivals’ “war preparation maneuvers”.
Two days after the statement, North Korea fired two cruise missiles from a submarine off its east coast, calling it a warning for South Korean-US military exercises.