US, South Korea to hold spring drills on countering North Korea from March 9
Freedom Shield will run for 11 days and involve some 18K personnel, while featuring training on deterring DPRK nukes
ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Jang Do-young and Col. Ryan Donald, public affairs chief for the Combined Forces Command, United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea, following a press conference on plans for Freedom Shield 2026 on Feb. 25, 2026 | Image: NK News
The U.S. and South Korea will hold large-scale springtime military drills on countering North Korean threats from March 9 to 19, the allies announced on Wednesday.
The announcement followed reports that Seoul was pushing to delay or scale back the annual Freedom Shield exercise to support diplomacy with Pyongyang, with the allies stating that training will be “carried out normally.”
The U.S. and South Korea will hold large-scale springtime military drills on countering North Korean threats from March 9 to 19, the allies announced on Wednesday.
The announcement followed reports that Seoul was pushing to delay or scale back the annual Freedom Shield exercise to support diplomacy with Pyongyang, with the allies stating that training will be “carried out normally.”
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