South Korean, US troops conduct joint air assault drills near North Korea border

On March 11, South Korean and U.S. troops conducted joint air assault drills at a training facility in Paju, a town located near the border with North Korea, the South Korean Army said. 

The exercise, aimed at enhancing joint operational capabilities, involved approximately 400 soldiers from South Korea's 1st Infantry Division and the U.S.-South Korea Combined Division's Stryker Brigade, Caliber.Az reports, citing South Korean media.

The drills were led by South Korean forces.

A range of equipment, including six Surion KUH medium-sized utility helicopters and a reconnaissance drone, were mobilized for the joint operation.

This exercise was part of the annual Freedom Shield exercise, a computer-simulated training event designed to bolster the combined defense posture against North Korean military threats. The 2025 edition of Freedom Shield began on March 11 and will run for 11 days. In total, South Korea is deploying around 19,000 troops for the springtime exercise, which includes 16 large-scale on-field drills, an increase from the 10 held last year.

By Khagan Isayev