South Korea and the United States have conducted extensive live-fire exercises near the North Korean border despite Pyongyang’s warning that it will not tolerate what it describes as a “hostile doorstep invasion.”
The maneuvers, which began today, Thursday, are considered the largest of their kind, and are the first of a round of firing by the two allies until mid-June. They mark the 70th anniversary of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington.
It is notable that North Korea usually responded to such large exercises between South Korea and the United States by testing missiles and other weapons.
North Korea has tested more than 100 missiles since early 2022, but there have been no missile launches since it launched a solid-fueled ICBM in mid-April.
It is worth noting that the US-South Korean shooting exercise, dubbed the Joint Destruction Firepower Exercise, will be the largest of its kind.
Ministry officials said this year’s exercise will involve advanced stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, multiple launch rocket systems and other weapons from South Korea and the United States.
Source: AB