The South Korean and U.S. militaries have postponed announcing a date for their major springtime Freedom Shield exercise due to differences over the scale of on-field drills. The U.S. expressed reluctance to South Korea's proposal to minimize field training, citing already arrived troops and equipment. The two sides plan to announce the exercise later this month or early March.
The South Korean and U.S. militaries decided on February 22, 2026, to postpone announcing a date for their major springtime Freedom Shield exercise due to differences over the scale of on-field drills, sources said Sunday. The allies had planned a joint press briefing on Wednesday, but it was shelved after the U.S. expressed reluctance to South Korea's proposal to minimize field training.
The exercise occurs every spring under an all-out war scenario to enhance readiness against North Korea's advancing nuclear and weapons programs. Under the current Lee Jae Myung administration, Seoul has sought to scale back on-field drills as a reconciliatory gesture to Pyongyang, which has long criticized them as invasion preparations.
"The announcement was postponed due to coordination issues over on-field exercises," a military source said. "The South Korean side seeks to minimize on-field training but the U.S. side has shown reservations."
The U.S. reportedly disapproved of the proposal because additional troops and equipment have already arrived in the country for the drills. The two sides plan further coordination and to announce the exercise later this month or early March.
During last year's major summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, the allies conducted only half of some 40 planned on-field drills during the period, staging the rest until year-end.
"The Freedom Shield exercise, planned for March, will take place normally," a defense ministry official said, noting it will focus on verifying capabilities to ensure the transition of wartime operational control to the South Korean military, which currently lies with U.S. forces.
