Accra:Seoul The top U.S. military commander in South Korea has called for more frequent combined exercises between the U.S. and South Korea throughout the year, moving away from the current practice of biannual drills. This initiative aims to better adapt to the evolving security environment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson expressed these views during a dialogue session in Seoul. He mentioned a recent meeting with South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung, where they discussed upcoming spring exercises, known as the Freedom Shield.
Gen. Brunson emphasized the necessity of continuous training throughout the year to maintain readiness and meet objectives set by national command authorities. He highlighted that the changing environment and emerging challenges require adaptive training and rehearsals beyond the traditional two major exercises the Freedom Shield in spring and the Ulchi Freedom Shield in summer.
Previously, the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was reduced in scope following directives from U.S. President Donald Trump, who aimed to reduce costs and facilitate diplomatic engagement with North Korea.
In addition to the call for more frequent drills, Gen. Brunson emphasized the importance of industrial cooperation under the "regional sustainment hub" concept. This initiative focuses on utilizing South Korea's defense manufacturing capabilities to maintain and repair U.S. military equipment locally, rather than sending it back to the United States, thereby enhancing the endurance and deterrence capabilities of the alliance.