The 2026 joint live-fire exercise involving the military's key assets began in earnest on the 28th. The Ministry of National Defense said this was the first joint live-fire exercise since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration and focused on highlighting the military's independent defense capabilities. Following the announcement of the basic plan for a nuclear-powered submarine on the 26th, the government continued to spotlight autonomous defense with the joint live-fire exercise.
The Ministry of National Defense said it conducted the 2026 joint live-fire exercise at the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on this day under the direction of Minister Ahn Gyu-baek. Twenty-seven units from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps and about 1,400 troops took part. A total of 457 pieces of equipment across 96 types of maneuver, firepower, and aviation assets were deployed. The lineup included K9 self-propelled howitzers, K2 tanks, the homegrown next-generation fighter KF-21, loitering munitions, and unmanned and artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The exercise was conducted in two parts. Part 1 simulated a defensive operation assuming an enemy surprise attack. The military repelled the enemy attack with a demonstration unit centered on the AI command decision support system and the unmanned combat system. In particular, when the military's surveillance assets such as satellites, reconnaissance and signals intelligence drones, and the E-737 Peace Eye acquired enemy information, the AI command decision support system recommended target data, and a manned-unmanned teaming combat system, including loitering munitions, carried out the strikes.
Part 2 proceeded as an offensive operation. Based on joint firepower, the military showcased suppression and strike capabilities against the enemy's mechanized forces. It also demonstrated concluding operations in the shortest time with minimal losses by leveraging manned-unmanned teaming combat systems. After the Army Tiger force and the Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicles secured key areas, the military staged offensive actions through ground and artillery fire support, air assault operations, and ground equipment maneuver.
Choi Sung-jin, commander of the 7th Maneuver Corps (Army lieutenant general), who led the joint live-fire exercise, said, "As the people's military, we demonstrated that we are building a resolute autonomous defense capability and posture, providing an opportunity to bolster public trust." A Ministry of National Defense official said, "By strengthening independent operational capabilities and jointness, we will realize autonomous defense and continue our ascent as a defense industry powerhouse with international competitiveness in the global market."
The military's live-fire demonstration training first began in 1977. This year marks the 13th iteration. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who was serving as acting president, presided over the exercise, and it was halted during the Moon Jae-in administration. It later resumed in 2023 under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration on the largest scale to date.