SEOUL: South Korea and the United States began large annual military exercises on Monday to bolster their readiness against North Korean nuclear threats after Pyongyang raised animosities with the extension of its missile tests and belligerent rhetoric earlier this year.

The South Korean and American forces began a computer-simulated command post training called the "Freedom Shield" exercise and a variety of field drills for an 11-day run, the South Korean Defense Ministry said.

South Korean antiwar activists hold placards in front of a big banner reading "Stop war exercises!" during a rally to protest the annual 'Freedom Shield' joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, near the presidential office in Seoul on March 4, 2024. AFP PHOTO

North Korea had no immediate response to the major annual drills it regards as a rehearsal for invasion. Pyongyang has staged provocative weapons tests in the past in reaction to its adversaries' joint drills.

South Korea's military said last week it would conduct 48 field exercises with US forces this spring, doubling last year's number. These would involve live-firing, bombing, air assault and missile interception drills, it added.

Since early 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 rounds of missile tests to modernize its arsenal as talks with Washington and Seoul have been stalled for an extended period. In response, the two allies have expanded their training exercises and increased the deployment of powerful US military assets such as aircraft carriers and long-range nuclear-capable bombers.

This year, North Korea carried out six rounds of missile tests and barrage of artillery firing drills. Its leader Kim Jong Un also said Pyongyang would scrap its long-standing goal of peaceful unification with Seoul and take a more aggressive military posture along the disputed sea boundary with the South. He also vowed to "annihilate" South Korea and the US if provoked, a threat he had issued before.

The North Korean steps raised worries that it might make provocations along the tense Korean sea and land borders. But experts say the prospect for a full-blown North Korean attack is dim as Pyongyang knows its military is outmatched by US and South Korean forces.

North Korea's moves to raise tensions are likely related to upcoming elections planned by its rivals: the US presidential election in November and South Korea's parliament poll in April. North Korea believes an advanced nuclear arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy and could win concessions, like easing international sanctions, experts say.

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