S.Korea, U.S. to Revive Large-Scale Field Maneuvers

South Korea and the U.S. will revive another large-scale military exercise next year. The regular field maneuvers, dubbed "Foal Eagle," were suspended in 2018 as the then U.S. and South Korean governments sought to appease North Korea.

The decision was made in a meeting of top military commanders chaired by Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup on Wednesday.

They also discussed how to exploit the U.S. doctrine of "extended deterrence" of North Korean threats, including the semi-permanent deployment of American "strategic assets" or heavy weaponry on the Korean Peninsula.

They decided to come up with practical scenarios to respond to the evolving nuclear and missile threat from North Korea.

The exercise will consist of some 20 field maneuvers such as landing exercises.

In the meeting, the military leaders also decided to increase investment in cutting-edge defense technologies.

"We will deal with the North Korean nuclear threat in the framework of the U.S.' firm commitment to extended deterrence by mobilizing a full range of military capabilities," Lee said.