South Korea, US Consider Live-Fire Drills Amid North Korea Threats

A U.S. B-52 bomber, C-17, and South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea on Dec. 20, 2022. South Korean Defense Ministry via AP

SEOUL—South Korea and the United States are considering staging their first large-scale joint live-fire demonstration in six years in 2023 amid North Korea’s growing military threats, Seoul’s defense ministry said on Thursday.

The drills have been floated as South Korea and the United States discuss preparations for the 70th anniversary of their alliance next year, ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu said.