Jung Kyung-doo: "ROK-US Combined Exercises Actually Increased... Over 100 Battalion-Level Exercises Last Year"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo holds a joint press conference after concluding the 51st Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) senior talks at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo stated, "The frequency and intensity of the ROK-US joint exercises have not decreased at all compared to the past."

Minister Jeong said in a congratulatory speech at the '8th KRINS-Brookings Joint International Conference' held on the 15th at the Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, "Over the past year, more than 100 joint exercises and drills at the battalion level have been conducted, which is actually an increase."

He continued, "However, joint exercises and drills are being conducted in an adjusted manner to militarily support the diplomatic efforts of the ROK and US governments to create conditions for North Korea's denuclearization negotiations and to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing, "Advanced weapon systems and operational concepts have been applied."

Minister Jeong explained, "For example, the ROK-US Air Force joint exercises no longer require taking off together at the same base and time as in the past," adding, "It is possible to perfectly carry out combined and joint air operations through Air Tasking Order (ATO) mission directives."

The battalion-level joint exercises mentioned by Minister Jeong include joint mine warfare training, joint rescue training, joint flagship training, joint anti-submarine warfare training, and maritime special operations (MC-SOF). Additionally, the ROK-US Marine Corps includes the tactical unit-level field maneuver exercise called 'KMEP' (Korea Marine Expeditionary Program).

The military plans to strengthen small-scale battalion-level joint exercises this year. This means increasing the scale and frequency of ROK-only training to replace the three major large-scale exercises that North Korea opposes: Key Resolve (KR), Foal Eagle (FE), and Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). If North Korea carries out provocations crossing the 'red line' early this year, the scale of joint exercises could also be significantly expanded. Within the US, there are voices of concern about reducing ROK-US joint exercises and calls to resume them if necessary.

Minister Jeong also said, "The ROK and US maintain an ironclad combined defense posture through continuous joint exercises and training," adding, "The ROK-US military authorities are closely monitoring North Korea's military movements." He added, "Last year, North Korea launched 25 short-range ballistic missiles in 13 separate instances and violated the September 19 military agreement with coastal artillery fire at Changrin-do," and "increased 'military activities' such as engine tests in the Dongchang-ri area."

Recently, it has been identified that North Korean fighter jets have significantly increased their flight frequency. The increase in flight frequency by North Korean fighter jets, despite fuel shortages, is interpreted as a response to US reconnaissance flights over the Korean Peninsula.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.