US, South Korea hold five-day joint military logistic drills
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South Korea and the US hold a five-day joint military logistics drill amid recent regional tensions.
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US and South Korean troops prepare for military drills, undated. (AFP)
South Korea is currently holding five-day joint military logistics drills with the United States, said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Tuesday, amid rising regional tensions.
The military exercises, comprised of 2,000 South Korean and US troops, are taking place from June 24 to June 28 in several locations throughout the country, according to the military. The drills also involve over 500 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, self-propelled artillery units, refueling tankers, ships, civilian cargo ships, and aircraft.
The goal of the joint logistics drills is to test the effective collaboration of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. According to a statement by the JSC, “the continuous support exercise is aimed at practicing procedures for the timely distribution of personnel, equipment, fuel and other logistics to various combat units.”
On Friday last week, Seoul's military fired warning shots at DPRK soldiers for the third time this month for briefly crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), heightening tensions between the two countries. This comes after Putin’s visit to the DPRK last week, vowing to support the nation against foreign aggression.
Russia, DPRK begin work on implementing new treaty
Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora told Sputnik on Saturday that Moscow and Pyongyang are continuing their efforts to implement all provisions of the new strategic partnership treaty, sending a strong message to Pyongyang's adversaries.
"We are not resting on our laurels. We have entered a new period as the work on the implementation of all the provisions of the treaty is starting. We are ready for it. Our [North] Korean friends, of course, are too. Long road ahead yet," Matsegora said.
The ambassador further said that this new agreement is the outcome of extensive collaborative efforts between Russia and the DPRK since their leaders convened in September 2023, marking it as a historic document.
"[The treaty] not only provided a legal basis for comprehensive bilateral cooperation, but also guaranteed at a high level the security of our two countries and stability in the Northeast Asia, sending a strong signal to those forces that have been gradually escalating tensions and increasing military, political and economic pressure on North Korea over the past years," Matsegora added.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Pyongyang.
The treaty includes a commitment from both countries to provide military and other forms of assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.
