South Korea to start annual defence drill this week

South Korea's military will launch a nationwide large-scale annual exercise this week to bolster its defense posture against North Korean threats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday. The annual Hoguk Exercise will take place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, with the participation of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Marine Corps as well as government officials and police officers, the JCS said. This year's exercise will focus on enhancing joint combat capabilities against possible provocations by North Korea, with some exercises involving American troops, the JCS said. Hoguk replaced the Team Spirit exercise in 1996 and has focused on fostering joint capabilities among all service branches. The Koreas remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice. About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed here to deter against the North Korean threat.