South Korea kicked off an annual large-scale field exercise on Monday to enhance joint operational capabilities to counter North Korean threats, alongside joint drills with the U.S. that President Donald Trump cut from summer training.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said this year’s Hoguk exercise will run through Oct. 30 and is designed to “strengthen joint operational capabilities and combat effectiveness.”
Held every fall under JCS leadership, Hoguk is one of South Korea’s largest field training exercises, involving all branches of the armed forces.
This year’s exercise will feature opposing forces to reflect “the changing nature of modern warfare