USFK chief urges year-round joint exercises with South Korea

At an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, U.S. Forces Korea commander General Xavier Brunson called for more frequent, distributed joint training with South Korea, arguing that readiness cannot depend on just two large-scale drills each year. He referenced a recent discussion with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Jin Yong-sung regarding the upcoming Freedom Shield exercise and stressed the need to adapt to evolving threats.

Brunson reiterated similar remarks made in Washington, proposing that exercises be interspersed between the traditional spring and summer maneuvers. He highlighted the concept of a regional sustainment hub, which would use South Korean defense industry capacity to maintain and repair U.S. military hardware on the peninsula. This approach aims to keep equipment in theater and enhance deterrence by avoiding long-distance shipments for overhaul. The proposal follows the reduced Ulchi Freedom Shield drill last August, which was scaled back after orders from President Donald Trump.