S. Korea to kick off annual Hoguk exercise next week

The South Korean military is set to commence its annual Hoguk defense field exercise next week, accompanied by joint drills with the United States, according to officials.

Scheduled to run for five days starting Monday, the Hoguk exercise aims to strengthen the joint operational capabilities and readiness posture of the armed forces across land, maritime, and air domains, as stated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

This year's drills will feature a comparable number of troops as in 2025 and will include operations involving opposing forces and simulated combat training to better mirror real-world threats, the JCS informed.

The drills will also incorporate computer-simulated command post exercises and various strategy discussions to maintain a robust readiness posture, the JCS added.

Participating in the drills will be U.S. Forces Korea to improve interoperability with South Korean troops, a JCS official noted.

First launched in 1996, the Hoguk exercise seeks to enhance the interoperability between the two nations' armed forces.