[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises continue into their fourth day, it has been reported that North Korea is conducting low-intensity response drills focused mainly on the frontline areas, similar to last year.
On the 19th, a government official stated, "North Korea is conducting summer exercises for the army, navy, and air force just like last year, and the navigation warning issued over the northeastern East Sea area for two days starting from the 15th appears to be related to this."
Last year, North Korea significantly scaled down its summer exercises. The army conducted only outdoor training such as artillery firing, the navy carried out tactical training and situation response drills by squadron, and the air force reportedly reduced fighter jet flights due to fuel shortages. However, soldiers from the army's 2nd Corps were observed moving to replace personnel at frontline guard posts (GPs).
Although North Korea did not conduct missile launches or artillery firing drills during the navigation warning period, South Korea and the U.S. are closely monitoring their movements. The deployment of the U.S. ground surveillance reconnaissance aircraft 'Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-STARS)' near the Korean Peninsula on the 16th is also believed to be in response to these North Korean activities.
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