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US-South Korea Drills Deploy Robotic Systems for Tunnel Combat Training

Freedom Shield exercises focus on countering North Korea's underground networks with advanced drones and robotic dogs as tensions escalate.

Robotic dog
People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on March 10, 2025.
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Overview

  • Freedom Shield, an 11-day joint military exercise between the US and South Korea, is simulating combat in North Korea's extensive tunnel networks.
  • Advanced robotic systems, including drones and robotic dogs, are being used to enhance reconnaissance, disable utilities, and reduce risks to troops.
  • The drills aim to prepare for potential underground warfare, targeting tunnels believed to store weapons and serve as escape routes for North Korean leadership.
  • North Korea has responded to the exercises with cruise missile launches and strong criticisms of the US military presence in South Korea.
  • The exercises underscore the US-South Korea alliance's commitment to regional security and defense readiness against North Korean threats.