▲ Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Capt. Jang Do-young (L) and Col. Ryan Donald, spokesperson for the U.S. Forces Korea, attend a press briefing at the defense ministry in Seoul on Feb. 26, 2026, to announce South Korea and the United States will stage their annual joint springtime military exercise next month to strengthen their combined defense posture as they are preparing for the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul. The Freedom Shield exercise is scheduled to take place from March 9-19, involving the field training exercise dubbed "Warrior Shield." (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

S Korea-US-joint drills

S. Korea, U.S. to stage 22 field training drills during Freedom Shield exercise

SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed to conduct 22 field training drills as initially planned during their annual joint springtime military exercise next month, nearly halving the number of such on-field drills from last year, officials said Friday.

The number of field training exercises (FTX) planned during this year's Freedom Shield (FS) exercise is less than half of the 51 field drills conducted last year under the conservative government of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The allies announced Wednesday they will stage this year's FS exercise from March 9-19. But at that time, they failed to disclose the scope of the Warrior Shield field drills in a rare move, saying they are in consultation over the details.

"South Korea and the U.S. have been closely coordinating over the joint live field training drills," a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said during a regular press briefing.

"We plan to conduct 22 on-field training drills as initially planned during the FS exercise period."

A U.S. Forces Korea official also said the allies had agreed to conduct 22 live field training events showcasing "tough, realistic, demanding training" that is expected from the Korean and U.S. public.

A JCS official explained that the move illustrates the military's bid to "spread out" the combined drills to ensure a year-round readiness posture.

This year's FTXs consist of six large-scale live field trainings at the brigade-level, 10 battalion-level and six company-level drills.

South Korea is believed to have proposed further reducing the number of field drills as it seek to resume dialogue with North Korea. But the U.S. reportedly expressed reservations, citing the arrival of its assets on the ground.

North Korea has long denounced the Seoul-Washington joint military drills as rehearsals for invasion though the allies said the combined exercise is defensive in nature.

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