South Korea and the US hold joint river crossing exercise near the North Korean border

According to the South Korean military, the six-day exercise, which began on March 15, took place on the Imjin River in Yeoncheon, about 50 km north of the capital Seoul.

Approximately 600 troops from units including the Republic of Korea's 5th Engineer Brigade, the Multi-Purpose Pontoon Bridge Company, and the Stryker Brigade of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Arms Division (2ID/RUCD) participated in the training.

In addition, the exercise also mobilized about 100 weapons and military equipment, including CH-47D Chinook helicopters, K1E1 tanks and US Stryker armored vehicles to support the construction of a 180m long pontoon bridge.

The exercise took place at the same time as the annual spring exercise “Freedom Shield” between the two allies, the US and South Korea, which is said to be aimed at strengthening defense capabilities against military threats from neighboring countries.

According to Yonhap news agency on March 20, the South Korean military said that the country and the US ended the annual joint military exercise Freedom Shield on the same day after 11 days.

This year's drills are set to be the first major military exercises since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, with Washington continuing to reaffirm its security commitment to ally South Korea.

South Korea deployed about 19,000 troops in this year's exercise and coordinated with its allies to conduct extensive field exercises to enhance interoperability, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The exercise included land, sea, air, cyber and space exercises. It was also the first time that the Republic of Korea Strategic Command and the Naval Operations Command participated in a joint exercise.

The JCS said that by reflecting actual threats, such as changes in North Korea's military strategies, tactics and forces, South Korea and the United States can enhance their combined defense capabilities as well as the alliance's response capabilities through realistic training.

According to the announcement from the JCS, Admiral Kim Myung-soo – Chairman of the JCS had in-depth discussions with the Commander of the Joint Forces on the impact of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow on the Korean Peninsula issue.

North Korea has long condemned joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. On the first day of the exercises, Pyongyang issued a series of statements criticizing them, calling them a "dangerous provocation" and launching several ballistic missiles.

Freedom Shield is one of two major annual military exercises between allies South Korea and the United States, built on a scenario of all-out war. The other is Ulchi Freedom Shield, which usually takes place in August. South Korea and the United States often insist that the exercises are defensive in nature.