Freedom Shield rift: South Korea, US at odds over war games’ scale

SCMP · 2026-02-24
Freedom Shield rift: South Korea, US at odds over war games’ scale

Every spring, South Korea and the United States stage one of their largest combined military exercises in a show of force that North Korea invariably denounces as a rehearsal for war. This year, Seoul wants to dial them back, wagering that smaller drills could open a diplomatic door that has been sh