The armies of South Korea and the United States are conducting the "Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX)" as of the 10th.
According to the army, this exercise, which has been ongoing since the 3rd for three weeks at the Rodriguez training area in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, has involved over 150 pieces of equipment, including K1A2 tanks, K21 infantry fighting vehicles, and U.S. Stryker armored vehicles. The U.S. military has mobilized M777A2 155mm lightweight towed howitzers, Apache attack helicopters, and A-10 attack aircraft.
The number of troops participating in this exercise is over 2,000. Among the participants are troops from the Army Capital Mechanized Infantry Division (tank battalion), 2nd Rapid Response Division (rapid response battalion), 15th Infantry Division (tank battalion), and the U.S. 2nd Division and South Korea-U.S. Combined Division (Stryker Brigade Battalion).
Initially, this exercise was conducted solely by the U.S. military to adapt the Stryker Brigade to the weather and terrain of the Korean Peninsula. Since July 2024, it has been conducted as a joint exercise with the Korean military to enhance interoperability in combined operations between the two countries. The militaries of South Korea and the U.S. have elevated this exercise to a joint exercise based on the judgment that it aids mutual tactical understanding and operational performance.
Major Lee Sang-hoon, operations officer of the Stryker Brigade in the Korean army, noted, "The joint exercise is the best method for enhancing the adaptability of the Stryker Brigade troops to winter and their understanding of Korean military tactics," adding, "We will conduct the exercise to maximize the combat capabilities of both militaries."