Seoul:The South Korean military is set to commence its annual outdoor defense field exercise, known as the Hoguk exercise, next week. This event will include joint field drills with the United States, which were previously delayed as both nations scaled down their combined summer exercises, officials announced on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Hoguk exercise is scheduled to begin on Monday and will last for five days. The exercise aims to enhance joint operational capabilities and the readiness posture of the armed forces across land, maritime, and air domains, as stated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
This year's exercise will involve a number of troops similar to those in the 2025 exercise. It will feature operations with opposing forces and simulated combat training to better mirror realistic threats. The drills will also include computer-simulated command post exercises and various strategy discussions to maintain a "robust" readiness posture.
U.S. Forces Korea will participate in the drills, working to improve interoperability with South Korean troops, a JCS official noted. The Hoguk exercise, first launched in 1996, focuses on enhancing the armed forces' interoperability across multiple domains and bolstering military combat readiness.
During the Hoguk drills, the South Korean military plans to conduct two of the seven field training exercises with the U.S. that were postponed during the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) period. The remaining five field maneuvers are expected to be completed within this year, according to the JCS.
The UFS, originally set for August 17-27, was cut short by nearly half, following a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to significantly reduce the joint drills, seemingly as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea.