American and South Korean forces on Thursday concluded 11 days of joint military exercises amid flaring tensions between the U.S. ally and North Korea. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills featured land,

North Korea has held several missile system tests so far this year. On March 18, Kim oversaw the firing of six “super-large” launchers firing 600 mm rounds simultaneously, which South Korea’s military characterized as short-range ballistic missiles.

South Korea and the United States will hold vice-ministerial talks in Washington next week on deterrence efforts against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's foreign ministry