Incheon: South Korean and U.S. troops have launched large-scale battle command training, the South's Army announced, in efforts to enhance their combined readiness against North Korean military threats. The five-day training, scheduled to conclude on Thursday, is taking place at training facilities in Incheon, west of Seoul, and in the border town of Paju. This exercise mobilized approximately 1,200 troops from both nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the exercise involves troops from units such as the 17th Infantry Division, the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Command, and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division. The computer-simulated drills are designed to improve the combat command and control capabilities of commanding officers. They include counter weapons of mass destruction and air maneuvering operations alongside on-field drills to provide realistic training.
The 17th Infantry Division has been engaged in battle command training with the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division since 2013. This year's drills are organized in conjunction with the Freedom Shield, an annual springtime exercise conducted by the allies, which is set to complete its 11-day run on Thursday.