US, South Korea Drills to Reflect North Korea-Russia Threat

Forthcoming joint drills by US and South Korean forces will factor in North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia, according to a statement from Seoul, underscoring growing concerns about that alliance as tensions rise globally.

The Exercise Freedom Shield 25 combined drills will run from March 10 to March 20, with joint field training that will involve various units from land to cyberspace, the Defense Ministry statement said. The drills will help reinforce confidence that the US-South Korea alliance remains firm despite a leadership crisis in Seoul after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for his brief attempt to impose martial law in December.