Asia-Pacific

S Korea holds joint military exercise with US

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-08 15:52

A South Korean Army's K-1 tank makes its way in smoke during the US-South Korea joint military exercise, at a shooting range about 45 km north of Seoul, June 8, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - South Korean and US forces conducted a joint drill Wednesday, the first South Korea-led exercise as the allies prepare for the planned transfer of Seoul's wartime operational command.

More than 800 troops from South Korea's tank battalion and two US squadrons engaged in mobile training and a free-fighting training at the Mugeonri military training field, north of Seoul.

South Korea mobilized 40 K-1 tanks, four K-200 and K-242 armored cars, three K-277 armored vehicles, two self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and eight rescue vehicles. 28 US M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles and rescue vehicles were also involved.

The four-day exercise marked the first one commanded by the South Korean military, which is scheduled to retake its wartime operational control, currently held by the US, in 2015.

Seoul's wartime operational control was given to the US-led United Nations Command at the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, which was later transferred to the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC).

Some 28,500 US troops have been stationed here following the war.