The United States and South Korea are set to conduct annual joint military drills as North Korean despot Kim Jong Un continues to boast of his country’s military capabilities.
Freedom Shield 26, a field training exercise run by both countries, will take place from March 9 to March 19, United States Forces Korea announced.
The exercises are “defensive in nature,” and several United Nations Command member states are expected to take part in the drills, the group said.
“[South Korea] and U.S. units will participate in several large-scale live training exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability, reinforcing our combined defense posture, and increasing overall combat readiness,” according to the announcement.
Meanwhile, North Korean dictator Kim is saber-rattling and boasting of his hermit nation’s “powerful offensive capability.”
He visited a 5,000-ton destroyer and conducted a missile test all while vowing to continue to beef up the Democratic People’s Republic’s naval capabilities, state-run media KCNA reported Thursday.
“Every year during the new five-year plan period, we must build two surface warships of this class or of a higher class,” Kim said at North Korea’s Nampho Shipyard.
The five-year plan refers to an economic and state-building initiative conceived by the ruling Workers Party of Korea at its 9th party congress in February.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to improve diplomatic relations with Pyongyang and has proposed scaling back Freedom Shield’s live field drills — but was rebuffed by the US.
North Korea has long condemned Freedom Shield as a rehearsal for an potential invasion by the US and South Korea.
At the 9th congress in February, Un called South Korea his regime’s “most hostile enemy” and said its destruction “cannot be ruled out.”
Freedom Shield will also run defense drills regarding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, US and South Korean officials said.
North Korea is estimated to have produced as many as 50 nuclear warheads and amassed enough fissile material for as many as 90, according to the US Naval Institute.
“This exercise fortifies our combined defense posture and enhances our response capabilities, reinforcing the Alliance’s role in regional peace and security,” according to the announement.
North Korea may be set to hold a large military parade to show off its latest capabilities, according to regional analysts.
With Post Wires.
