The
drills, overseen by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, are
also being held to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance
between the countries and the 75th anniversary of the founding
of the South Korean military, his office said.
A total of 2,500 troops took part in the drills in Pocheon,
northeast of Seoul, supported by "cutting-edge" military assets,
including South Korean F-35 fighters and K9 self-propelled
howitzers and U.S. F-16 jets and Gray Eagle drones.
"The exercises were aimed at checking the ability to conduct
combined and joint operations to realise 'peace through
strength' through practical manoeuvring and live-fire training
under the scenario of a North Korean provocation," Yoon's office
said in a statement, describing them as the largest live-fire
drills ever held with the United States.
The initial phase of the drills were designed to show a response
to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and a full-scale
attack.
Later in the programme, allied troops prepared the ground for a
counterattack through air and artillery precision strikes on key
targets, in order to "completely destroy the North's military
threats," it said.
In response to the drills, North Korea said its forces would
sternly respond to "any kind of protests or provocations by
enemies."
North Korea unsuccessfully tried to launch a spy satellite late
last month, in its first such attempt since 2016, with the
rocket booster and payload plunging into the sea.
Seoul and Washington condemned the launch as a grave provocation
and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the
North's use of ballistic missile technology.
Pyongyang said it was exercising its right to space development
and vowed to stage another launch soon to boost its surveillance
capabilities against U.S. and South Korean threats.
The isolated North has previously reacted angrily to the allies'
military drills, calling them a rehearsal for its invasion.
The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.
(Reporting by Hyonhee ShinEditing by Ed Davies and Christian
Schmollinger)
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