South Korea and the United States have commenced their annual Freedom Shield exercise on March 4, marking one of their largest joint military drills in recent years. This year's exercise, lasting 11 days, has seen a significant increase in scale, with the number of field exercises doubled and twice the number of troops participating compared to the previous year. The drills come in response to escalating nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, which has scrapped the 2018 inter-Korean military accord. North Korea has condemned the drills, with its defense ministry urging the cessation of what it calls rehearsals for war and warning of consequences. Amid these tensions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered heightened war preparations, inspecting field training of troops and overseeing a military drill that simulated taking over a South Korean border guard post.
🇰🇵 Kim Jong-un visited the main base of the Korean People's Army. https://t.co/BV0QzGrbgl
🇰🇵 Kim Jong-un visited the main base of the Korean People's Army, inspected training facilities and even supervised practical exercises of military units. https://t.co/RO7bxqy29f
🇰🇵 Pictured: Kim Jong-un inspects North Korea’s troops as he ramps up war drills https://t.co/PXCpBltCyg
Kim Jong Un Orders Heightened War Preparations Amid US-South Korea Military Drills https://t.co/LX9wcHQNVV
🇰🇵🇰🇷 KIM JONG UN STEPS UP WAR PREPARATIONS The North Korean leader inspected field training of his troops on Wednesday, telling them to advance combat readiness. The news comes after combined military drills by the U.S. and South Korea on Monday had twice the number of troops… https://t.co/wpYSO4NwE4
Kim Jong Un oversaw a military drill that simulated taking over a South Korean border guard post. He ordered the military to constantly strengthen practical training to improve combat capabilities. Large scale U.S. and South Korean exercises continue and South Korea has… https://t.co/nHhibHY7md
#NorthKorean leader Kim Jong Un inspects field training of troops at a major military operations base in the western region of the country and orders heightened readiness for war, state KCNA news agency reports. https://t.co/vcdTta1cA3
South Korea and the United States initiated joint military drills this week. #TWTFrontPage https://t.co/NB2gBVqjhw
North Korea condemns latest US-South Korea drills Pyongyang claims an invasion is being planned, while Seoul says the exercises are purely defensive https://t.co/mwb7P325RX https://t.co/PA3TMY2lTf
"North Korea's defence ministry urged South Korea and the United States to stop military drills, saying they are rehearsals of war and warning of consequences, KCNA reported on Tuesday." @HeeShin @Reuters https://t.co/PEn9xXoLQw
Brace yourself for rumbles from North Korea and headlines about "rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula" precision-striking a newsstand near you. South Korea and the United States initiated springtime joint military drills this week -- drills which... https://t.co/NPW73XetFz
Philippines, US to hold military drills in islands facing #SouthChinaSea , Taiwan. https://t.co/c59DVGXMd0
Pyongyang published a statement from the DPRK Ministry of Defense. According to the statement, “provocative large-scale joint military exercises” by Seoul and Washington will “increase the unpredictability of the situation in the truce area” on the Korean Peninsula: "Large-scale… https://t.co/FG1G2ZXQkd
#NorthKorea’s defense ministry has urged South Korea and the United States to stop military drills, saying they are rehearsals of war and warning of consequences. https://t.co/GmaRlABRU9
North Korea threatens to take military moves in response to US-South Korean drills https://t.co/1UByzICtPR
North Korea threatens military action in response to joint US-South Korean military drills https://t.co/TXtR2RDLe5
North Korea's defense ministry urged South Korea and the United States to stop military drills, saying they are rehearsals of war and warning of consequences, KCNA reported https://t.co/Yt30LPNumY
North Korea threatens to take military moves in response to U.S.-South Korean drills https://t.co/Lm6hXHlnQ7
North Korea slams South Korea-US military drills, warns of consequences https://t.co/TsmVhm8nrq https://t.co/75rRVnMZQt
⚠️ NORTH KOREA SLAMS SOUTH KOREA-US DRILLS, WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES, KCNA SAYS Full Story → https://t.co/xYjHcs0nJW North Korea's defence ministry called on South Korea and the United States to stop military drills, saying they are rehearsals of war and warning of consequences,… https://t.co/VuGtYVxxJp
*N.KOREA SAYS US, S.KOREA MUST HALT THEIR JOINT MILITARY DRILLS
South Korea and the US on Monday kicked off a joint military exercise amid concerns from neighboring countries. The annual springtime war game will continue for 11 days through March, South Korea's defense ministry said. https://t.co/oeYiiS6SIj
The armies of South Korea and the United States began their spring exercises with twice as many soldiers as compared to last year, with the aim of better countering North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. The Freedom Shield exercises, which will last from March 4 to… https://t.co/zSxrLvVC7M
US and South Korea conduct military exercises amid rising tensions with North Korea https://t.co/SsRJuQq3N9 https://t.co/mjorCyAvMb
The US and South Korea begin large military drills to boost readiness against North's threats https://t.co/0Cyce6wx7J
The U.S. and South Korea begin large military drills to boost readiness against North’s threats https://t.co/9SqbrzyYGj
South Korea and the United States have kicked off their large-scale annual spring military drills as North Korea continues to refine its missile and nuclear weapons programs. https://t.co/ZEA0IJEk5Q
South Korean and US militaries kicked off their spring drills with twice the number of troops joining compared to last year, officials said, as the allies seek to better counter North Korea's increasing nuclear and missile threats https://t.co/isiAjuQUZJ
Korean Worries The US and South Korea started one of their largest annual joint military drills in a move certain to raise tempers in North Korea, which began the year by threatening to destroy its neighbor to the south.
The US and South Korea started one of their largest annual joint military drills in a move certain to raise tempers in North Korea https://t.co/wFkzMTahGk
South Korea, US troops kick off annual drills over North threats https://t.co/Br7MSX1Vhs https://t.co/WTtH3L23ly
S. Korea, U.S. begin key annual military drills amid N.K. threats https://t.co/pSeQ59lknm
#BREAKING: South Korea and the United States have started the annual Freedom Shield exercise. It is the first large exercise since North Korea scrapped the 2018 inter-Korean military accord and the number of field exercises will be doubled compared to previous years. There is… https://t.co/kTGaxFmz54