Seoul: South Korea's military is set to initiate its annual outdoor defense field exercise, known as the Hoguk exercise, next week to enhance the joint operational capabilities of its military branches and ensure their readiness, officials announced Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Hoguk exercise will commence on Monday and will run for five days. The exercise was originally slated for October but was postponed to accommodate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) emphasized the importance of maintaining a "thorough military readiness posture" to support the successful hosting of these events.

This year's exercise will include troops and equipment from all three military branches, with a focus on bolstering operational capabilities in both peacetime and wartime conditions, as outlined by the JCS. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) will participate in certain segments of the drills to improve interoperability with South Korean forces.

The Hoguk exercise, first launched in 1996, aims to enhance the interoperability of the armed forces and to fortify the military's readiness posture.