Eva Deschamps. / March 6, 2024
American and South Korean soldiers began large-scale joint military maneuvers around the Korean peninsula on Monday, Seoul announced. The annual exercise, known as "Freedom Shield", is designed to deter North Korea from conducting tests near its neighbors, which the latter regard as provocative.
The maneuvers will last 11 days and will include both field exercises and computer simulations. The armies of both countries describe "Freedom Shield" as multidimensional defensive training, which includes cyberspace and space as possible battlefields, in addition to land, sea and air.
According to South Korea, defense against a North Korean nuclear threat is also an important part of the training. The number of troops taking part in the maneuvers was not disclosed.
North Korea has repeatedly threatened to take firm action against military exercises conducted by the USA and South Korea. Pyongyang considers these maneuvers to be rehearsals for an attack, which Washington and Seoul dispute.