South Korea and the United States kicked off joint military drills Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, despite warnings and weapons tests from North Korea in recent weeks.
The two allies will stage drills with a command-post exercise mostly involving computer simulations, not mobilization of troops or military equipment, for about two weeks, while also testing South Korea's capabilities in retaking operational control over its forces from the United States during wartime, Yonhap reported, citing unidentified sources.
South Korea's Defense Ministry had earlier said the two countries were preparing to hold the exercises, but did not confirm when they would start.