Seoul and Washington have begun a round of joint military drills, South Korea’s defense minister said on Monday.

Speaking at a hearing at the National Assembly, minister Jeong Kyeong-doo was asked whether planned joint military exercises, designed as an alternative to the now-terminated Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG), had begun.

“Yes, it is being conducted,” Jeong told lawmaker Ha Tae-keung, while declining to confirm further details about the exercise — including its name or how long it will last.

“My view is the fact that we are actually staging the joint drills is more significant than the title,” he said.