ROK kicks off exercise on countering North Korea, postponed drills with US



News ROK kicks off exercise on countering North Korea, postponed drills with US Two joint drills that Trump cut from Ulchi Freedom Shield in August will run alongside South Korea’s Hoguk exercise Jooheon Kim October 19, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Personnel from the ROK army’s 2nd Rapid Response Division disembark from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during an air-assault drill, a part of the Hoguk exercise. \| Image: Republic of Korea Army via Facebook (Oct. 2023) South Korea kicked off an annual large-scale field exercise on Monday to enhance joint operational capabilities to counter North Korean threats, alongside joint drills with the U.S. that President Donald Trump cut from summer training. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said this year’s Hoguk exercise will run through Oct. 30 and is designed to “strengthen joint operational capabilities and combat effectiveness.” Held every fall under JCS leadership, Hoguk is one of South Korea’s largest field training exercises, involving all branches of the armed forces. This year’s exercise will feature opposing forces to reflect “the changing nature of modern warfare © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Have follow-up questions? Ask NK PRO's Intelligence Suite to learn more. What has been North Korea's typical response to South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises like Hoguk or Ulchi Freedom Shield? This question is generated by AI and could contain mistakes. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

News

ROK kicks off exercise on countering North Korea, postponed drills with US

Two joint drills that Trump cut from Ulchi Freedom Shield in August will run alongside South Korea’s Hoguk exercise

Jooheon Kim October 19, 2026

ROK kicks off exercise on countering North Korea, postponed drills with US

Personnel from the ROK army’s 2nd Rapid Response Division disembark from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during an air-assault drill, a part of the Hoguk exercise. | Image: Republic of Korea Army via Facebook (Oct. 2023)

South Korea kicked off an annual large-scale field exercise on Monday to enhance joint operational capabilities to counter North Korean threats, alongside joint drills with the U.S. that President Donald Trump cut from summer training.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said this year’s Hoguk exercise will run through Oct. 30 and is designed to “strengthen joint operational capabilities and combat effectiveness.”

Held every fall under JCS leadership, Hoguk is one of South Korea’s largest field training exercises, involving all branches of the armed forces.

This year’s exercise will feature opposing forces to reflect “the changing nature of modern warfare