The United States and South Korea have wrapped up a joint military exercise aimed at addressing possible emergencies on the Korean Peninsula. They remain on high alert for possible missile launches and other actions North Korea could take in protest.
The regular Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which began on August 19, ended on Thursday morning.
The exercise focused on enhancing the capability of the two militaries to respond to North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction. The multi-domain drills included 48 field training sessions and responses to possible cyberattacks.
In a news conference on Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stressed that the exercise had boosted capabilities for containing North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
The two countries are still conducting a separate large-scale amphibious landing exercise through September 7.
The US and South Korean forces began Exercise Ssang Yong on Monday in areas including Pohang in South Korea’s southeast. More than 40 ships are taking part. The US aircraft include F-35B stealth fighters.
North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party newspaper on Wednesday reported that the country had conducted a test-firing of a new multiple rocket launcher on Tuesday. The Rodong Sinmun said leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing.
The move is seen as an attempt by Pyongyang to counter the joint military drills.