South Korea, U.S. conduct large-scale artillery exercise

South Korean and U.S. armed forces conducted their largest joint live-fire artillery exercise in six years in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday in what the Defense Ministry characterized as an exercise in deterrence against North Korean aggression.

Multiple rocket launch systems from the South Korean and U.S. militaries conduct a joint live-fire exercise in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday afternoon. [DEFENSE MINISTRY]

South Korean and U.S. armed forces conducted their largest joint live-fire artillery exercise in six years in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday in what the Defense Ministry characterized as an exercise in deterrence against North Korean aggression.

The Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, which marks the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, took place before reporters from 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., with the drill scheduled to take place four more times on June 2, 7, 12 and 15.

The last iteration of the exercise took place in 2017 and involved over 2,000 South Korean and U.S. troops.

The exercise showcased the allies’ artillery firepower and other weapons systems, such as F-35A stealth fighters, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, K-2 battle tanks and multiple rocket launcher systems.

The exercise comes at a time of high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with satellite images showing the North racing ahead with construction on a new satellite launch facility at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province, close to the border with China.

Meanwhile, the South Korean state arms procurement agency said Thursday that its Defense Project Promotion Committee had approved a mass production plan for additional K-2 main battle tanks to bolster the country’s defensive readiness.

The announcement by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) marks the fourth time that K-2 tanks will enter mass production. The tanks have been in service with the South Korean Army since 2014.

The project is expected to cost 1.94 trillion won ($1.46 billion), with tank deliveries scheduled for completion within five years.

“The acquisition of additional K-2 tanks through this project is expected to greatly contribute to enhancing the Army corps’ capabilities to carry out offensive maneuvers,” DAPA said.

DAPA also seeks to incorporate a new homegrown transmission for the tank, which would need to pass tests by the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, according to a DAPA official.

The agency said Thursday the defense project committee had also approved a 3.09 trillion-won plan to purchase additional early warning and control aircraft to strengthen the military’s aerial surveillance capabilities by 2031.

The agency did not disclose how many of such aircraft it aims to acquire, but the Air Force is known to currently operate four early warning and control aircraft.

DAPA said it expects the additional aircraft to bolster the military’s surveillance capabilities vis-à-vis North Korea’s missile launches.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]