Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

President Yoon oversaw the Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise

The largest ever scale with Korea-US advanced military assets

Repel North Korea’s full-scale attack and wage counterattack operation

The president greeted citizen observers and encouraged soldiers, and viewed key weapon systems

P1 President Yoon Suk Yeol (second to the left in the front row) and other guests applaud South Korean and United States soldiers for their overwhelming show of strength at the 2023 Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise. This event was held at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, on June 15. From the left in the front row, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, President Yoon, Chief of Staff of the Army Park Jeong-hwan, Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho, and Air Force Chief of Staff Jung Sang-hwa. Reported by Lee Kyeong-won

On June 15, President Yoon Suk Yeol stated, “The government is dedicated to defending the nation with a robust security posture and realistic training and protecting people’s lives and safety.”

President Yoon, who was at the 2023 South Korea-US Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of South Korea’s armed forces and the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US Alliance said, “Only a strong military that can fight the enemy and win, and that the enemy dares not challenge, can guarantee the freedom, peace and prosperity of the Republic of Korea”

President Yoon mentioned officers who delayed honeymoon trips and soldiers who postponed retirement to participate in this exercise, and a US soldier, the grandson of a man who had participated in the Korean War, and expressed his gratitude to them, saying, “Our people can have free and safe daily lives thanks to these soldiers who are faithful to their duties with a strong sense of mission.”

Referring to the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, where the exercise was staged, he said, “The site was first built by the US military in 1951 and was later developed by us. It is meaningful that this combined exercise is taking place at the site that symbolizes the alliance’s 70 year history.”

For the national combined joint live-fire exercise that was resumed six years after 2017, more than 610 advanced military assets including South Korean F-35A stealth fighters and K-9 self-propelled artillery, and US F-16 fighters and MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned combat aerial vehicles were deployed. Also, 2,500 South Korean and United State soldiers from 71 units participated in a test of interoperability capability to realize ‘peace through strength.’ This involved actual mobilization and live-fire exercises in response to a hypothetical North Korean provocation.

In the first part of the exercise, which aimed to repel a simulated full-scale attack and nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, live counterfire warfare was staged. This involved combined aerial forces, K-9, and Cheonmu. The North’s attack was repelled in general outpost (GOP) areas using attack helicopters, artillery and direct fire weapon systems, following the analysis of the war situation with reconnaissance drones.

The second part of the exercise, focused on counterattack operations, began following a series of intense drills. The objective was to completely annihilate the North’s military threats. To achieve this, core targets identified by the combined surveillance and reconnaissance assets of South Korea and the US were precisely struck by air and artillery forces, thereby setting the stage for a comprehensive counterattack. A series of relentless operations followed: ground attack units maneuvered, fired, and overcame obstacles. Using the South Korea-US combined simultaneous firing, they completely destroyed enemy units and positions, then captured target areas with high-speed 3D maneuvering forces. The exercise concluded with a triumphant march by South Korean and US soldiers, who had demonstrated overwhelming force and emerged victorious.

After the exercise ended, President Yoon went to the observers stand and greeted the citizen observers and encouraged soldiers. At the exhibition site, President Yoon viewed key South Korean and US weapon systems and equipment, including the K808 wheeled armored personnel carrier, unmanned aerial vehicles, Cheonmu, Cheongung, and the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). Afterwards, the president posed for a picture with the soldiers.

The Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise was attended by more than 2,000 people including 300 citizen observers, members of the National Assembly, South Korean and US officers and soldiers, private sector members of the Defense Innovation Board launched last month, and representatives of defense industry companies.

By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >

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