Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea and the United States began their annual Freedom Shield joint military drills on Monday to bolster readiness against North Korea.
The 11-day drills will integrate elements of “live exercises” with constructive simulations, according to United States Forces Korea (USFK) and South Korea’s Defense Ministry.
North Korea has previously condemned US and South Korea joint military drills, but it has not yet made any official comment or response to the current exercises.
In January, Kim called the South the North’s “primary foe and invariable principal enemy” and ordered a reunification monument in the North Korean capital to be demolished.
Meanwhile, North Korea has fostered closer ties with Russia, providing Moscow with arms for its war in Ukraine.
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