The drill, which will last until March 18, will have no outdoor maneuvers and involve a minimal number of troops. Pyongyang has long demanded Seoul and Washington to cease their military exercises, describing them as a sign of the US' hostile policy and a hindrance to normalisation of intra-Korean relations, as well as North Korea's relationship with the US.
"Considering that this time, scale and format-wise, the joint exercises are conducted in a flexible manner and at a minimal scale, we will try to conduct it in such a direction that will maintain the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. We expect that North Korea will also show a wise and flexible approach, corresponding to our efforts to establish a stable and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," ministry spokesperson Lee Jong-joo said at a briefing.
South Korea and the US conduct annual military drills during spring and summer, as well as minor exercises throughout a year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and Pyongyang's negative reaction, starting late 2019 the main exercises are limited to computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training, with the last year's summer drill canceled.