Seoul: The South Korean military announced on Monday that it has successfully conducted all joint field training drills with the United States that were postponed from August. These drills are part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, which typically occurs in the summertime.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that they completed 22 out of approximately 40 field drills that were rescheduled. These drills were initially postponed by a month to ensure a consistent military readiness posture throughout the year and to take advantage of optimal training conditions.

The completed drills included a range of exercises such as combined tactical airborne insertion drills, personnel recovery operations, equipment maintenance support training, and live-fire exercises. The JCS noted that two of these exercises, including airport damage recovery drills, were conducted solely by the South Korean military.

The decision to delay some field training exercises was attributed to various factors, including a heat wave and the strategic benefit of distributing drills throughout the year to enhance readiness. However, there is speculation that the postponement was also a gesture towards President Lee Jae Myung's administration's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations.