AMN/ WEB DESK

United States and South Korea kicked off a large-scale joint military exercises, aimed at strengthening their combined defence capabilities and deterring threats from North Korea. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The exercise will see more than 200 South Korean and US fighter jets fly around the clock for five days this week. The US stationed 28,500 troops in the South for combined defence against North Korea.