South Korea holds terror attack response drills and starts joint military exercises with US

South Korea and the US have launched military exercises, aimed at improving the countries joint response to any nuclear or missile threat from North Korea.

Pyeongyang has repeatedly denounced the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) drills as a war rehearsal.

Elsewhere, over 100 personnel from across South Korea’s public service, including the military, have taken part in a staged anti-terror attack drill at the country’s National Assembly.

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The military, police, fire department and local government were present in the drill, with a number of simulated terror attacks on South Korea’s parliament taking place.

The Ulchi Exercise also included chemical, bomb, and drone attacks, with more than 4,000 government bodies and 580,000 people also taking part in the exercise designed to prepare for a national emergency.

The nationwide drills saw South Korea prepare for an air raid for the first time in six years, with civilians moving to shelters and underground spaces.