U.S. and South Korea to Conduct Freedom Shield Military Exercises in March Amid North Korea Tensions

The U.S. and South Korea plan to conduct their annual Freedom Shield military exercises from March 9-19 to enhance joint defense capabilities amid rising tensions with North Korea. The drills, which include command-post and field training, aim to support the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea by 2030 and incorporate deterrence scenarios related to North Korea's nuclear weapons. While South Korea has proposed scaling back field exercises to ease regional tensions, the U.S. has resisted, with talks ongoing. North Korea is concurrently holding its Workers' Party Congress, potentially showcasing new military capabilities.