Korea-US FS Exercise from the 10th... "Reflecting Changed North Korean Strategy and Tactics"

Reflecting the Changed Reality After Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation
North Korea May Provoke Before and After the Exercise
Kim Yojong: "Will Increase Revolutionary Actions"

The joint U.S.-South Korea exercise, "Freedom Shield (FS)," will be conducted starting from the 10th of this month.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 6th that the FS exercise will be held for 11 days from the 10th to the 20th. FS is an annual regular U.S.-South Korea joint exercise conducted around March, replacing the "Key Resolve" exercise that began in 1976.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this FS exercise incorporates realistic threats such as North Korea's military cooperation with Russia, various trade disputes, and resulting changes in North Korean military strategy, tactics, and capabilities into the scenario to enhance the combined defense posture and response capabilities of the U.S. and South Korea.

Previously, North Korea intensified military cooperation with Russia last year and deployed about 12,000 troops to the Russia-Ukraine war. Inside and outside the military, it is believed that the North Korean military has gained experience in modern warfare and strengthened its combat doctrines through actual deployment.

Additionally, the U.S. and South Korea will expand joint field maneuver exercises across all domains including land, sea, air, cyber, and space, linked to the exercise scenarios. The goal is to improve alliance interoperability and demonstrate enhanced combined deterrence capabilities.

Furthermore, UN Command member countries are expected to participate during the exercise, and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will observe compliance with the armistice agreement.

Meanwhile, there is also a possibility that North Korea may continue provocations before and after this FS exercise. On the 4th, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued a statement regarding the deployment of the U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and the stealth strategic bomber B-1B to the Korean Peninsula, stating, "We plan to carefully consider options to increase strategic-level provocative actions regarding the safety zone of our adversary."

In fact, North Korea carried out missile provocations just before the FS exercise in 2023 and immediately after it last year. The Joint Chiefs of Staff also stated in this regard, "We are closely monitoring recent trends or movements indicating that North Korea may launch missiles."