S. Korea, US conduct live-fire drills near inter-Korean border

South Korea and the US staged a large-scale combined live-fire exercise near the inter-Korean border, the South’s Army said Thursday, amid North Korea’s evolving threats, Yonhap News Agency reported. The four-day drills took place in Pocheon, about 30 km south of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, through Thursday, involving some 100 howitzers, armored vehicles and equipment as well as more than 800 troops, according to the armed service.

The allies launched the combined division in 2015 to enhance their ability to conduct joint operations. North Korea has recently fired a series of missiles into waters off its coasts, including multiple cruise missiles Wednesday and an intercontinental ballistic missile last week, in an apparent protest against the allies’ springtime Freedom Shield military drills set to end Thursday, the report said. The country has earlier warned that it would take “overwhelming” action against military activities by the allies.

Source: Kuwait News Agency