By Sama Marwan,
The U.S. Forces in Seoul said on Wednesday that the U.S. Army has conducted training in South Korea for the first time aimed at enhancing the ability to operate effectively in a nuclear environment.
The two-day training course — held at South Korea’s Strategic Command in Seoul from April 15 to 16 — aims to strengthen the joint deterrence capabilities of the two allies against North Korea’s nuclear threats.
The U.S. Forces in South Korea explained — in a statement reported by the South Korean news agency “Yonhap” — that “the content of the training also directly applies to theoretical simulation exercises and war games conducted by the alliance, which focus on conventional and nuclear integration, and enhancing the strategic understanding of the joint force.”
The training, designed specifically for the South Korean military, was led by the U.S. Army Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Agency (USANCA), and included 13 South Korean participants, six of whom were members of the South Korean Strategic Command.
In August of last year, the two allies concluded their first-ever joint theoretical simulation exercises under the name “Iron Mace 24”, which addressed the integration of nuclear and conventional capabilities.
South Korea and the United States are intensifying their efforts to counter the growing nuclear threats posed by North Korea. During their annual bilateral defense talks held in October of last year, the two allies agreed to incorporate “realistic” scenarios — including a North Korean nuclear attack — into their future joint military exercises.
