SEOUL, South Korea South Korean and U.S. troops have been conducting live-fire workout routines this week to hone their capability to reply to potential Hamas-style shock artillery assaults by North Korea, South Koreas army stated Friday.
The 2 forces frequently conduct live-fire and different coaching, however this weeks drills come after Hamas Oct. 7 assault on Israel raised safety jitters in South Korea, which shares the worlds most closely fortified border with rival North Korea.
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Specialists say the Norths forward-deployed long-range artillery weapons can hearth about 16,000 rounds per hour within the occasion of a battle, posing a critical menace to Seoul, which is about 40-50 kilometers (25-30 miles) from the border.
The three-day firing workout routines, which started Wednesday, concerned 5,400 South Korean and U.S. troopers, 300 artillery programs, 1,000 automobiles and air drive belongings, in accordance with South Koreas army.
In a simulated response to the enemys (doable) Hamas-style shock artillery assaults, the workout routines practiced strikes designed to take away the origins of the enemys long-range artillery provocations at an early date, South Koreas Floor Operations Command stated in an announcement.
North Korea didnt instantly react to the drills. It sometimes views main U.S.-South Korean army coaching as invasion rehearsals and responds with missile checks.
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South Korea and the US have been increasing their common army drills within the face of North Koreas advancing nuclear program. Since final 12 months, North Korea has carried out greater than 100 missile checks, a few of them simulated nuclear assaults on South Korea and the U.S.
