South Korea and the United States have announced plans to hold their annual joint military exercises, Freedom Shield, from March 9 to 19, 2026, officials said on Wednesday, as both allies seek to strengthen their combined defense posture amid ongoing threats from North Korea.
The Freedom Shield exercises, described by Seoul and Washington as defensive in nature, are a key component of the two countries’ military cooperation and are intended to enhance interoperability across command, control and operations. The drills are also expected to support preparations for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from U.S. forces to South Korea, a long‑planned shift the allies aim to complete before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s term ends in 2030.
Officials said the exercises will incorporate scenarios designed to deter North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and reinforce readiness against a range of threats. Freedom Shield typically combines computer‑simulated command post training with other operational components, and serves as a test of combined defense capabilities under the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries.
The announcement comes as North Korea conducts its Ninth Workers’ Party Congress, its biggest political gathering, which observers say could culminate in a military parade showcasing new weapons systems. Past iterations of Freedom Shield have drawn sharp criticism from Pyongyang, which frequently condemns joint U.S.–South Korea exercises as rehearsals for invasion, a claim Seoul and Washington reject.
Officials in Seoul previously proposed scaling back some field training components to ease tensions with North Korea, but discussions on adjustments to next month’s drills were ongoing. The exercises continue against a backdrop of broader regional security dynamics, including diplomatic pressure from the United States to address nuclear and missile threats on the peninsula.