US and South Korean forces stage major drills 25km from demilitarised zone

US and South Korean forces conducted major live fire drills, just 25km from the Demilitarised Military Zone (DMZ) which divides South and North Korea.

The Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise involving 2,500 troops took place on the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon.

The drills on Thursday marked the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the US and South Korea, as well as the 75th anniversary of the founding of South Korea's armed forces.

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In April, President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol outlined new steps aimed at bolstering the longstanding US-South Korean defence alliance to deter the perceived growing nuclear threats from North Korea. 

As part of the alliance, the US has committed to enhancing the visibility of its strategic assets in the region.

The US has maintained a sizable presence in South Korea since the Korean War of 1950-1953.

More than 28,000 US service members serve on the peninsula alongside their South Korean allies.