SEOUL, March 19 (UPI) -- The United States and South Korea on Thursday concluded their annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise, reaffirming their combined defense posture after days of heightened tensions marked by North Korean missile launches and threats.
The 11-day exercise, which ran from March 9 to 19, was designed to strengthen the allies' readiness against "complex security threats" and enhance operations across land, sea, air, cyber and space domains, the two militaries said in a joint statement.
"Freedom Shield 26 demonstrates the strength of our alliance and our ability to train, build readiness, and operate seamlessly as one force," Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said.
North Korea fired about 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Saturday during the exercise, South Korean military officials said, while also issuing sharp warnings condemning the drills. Pyongyang later said the launches were part of a firepower strike drill involving 600mm multiple rocket launchers overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.
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