US, South Korea to Conduct Freedom Shield Joint Military Drills in March

Col. Jang Do-young, public affairs director of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Army Col. Ryan Donald, public affairs director of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea, pose for a photo during a media briefing on the 2026 ROK-US Freedom Shield Military Exercise at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 25, 2026. Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via APThe United States and South Korea will conduct joint military drills known as “Freedom Shield” next month, military officials from both countries announced on Feb. 25.The directors of public affairs for the two allies announced at a joint meeting held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that the 2026 Freedom Shield will take place between March 9 and 19, according to a statement from the South Korean Ministry of National Defense.