South Korea kicked off its largest annual field exercise on Monday, with U.S. forces set to join parts of the training traditionally aimed at countering North Korean threats.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the 2025 Hoguk exercise will run through Friday and is designed to “enhance joint operational capabilities and strengthen overall military readiness.”

JCS described the drills as “defensive in nature” and said they would integrate ground, naval, and air forces to improve joint operations and combat realism.

“Some U.S. forces stationed in South Korea will also participate to enhance interoperability for combined operations,” JCS said in