South Korean President Oversees Live-Fire Drills With US

Several thousand South Korean and U.S. troops took part in a show of force on Thursday, considered among the biggest ever, complete with fighter jets, tanks, and drones. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is overseeing the drills. “Protecting national security by ourselves is the real peace. Only a powerful army that foes would not dare overcome and an army that can win against enemies can guarantee the freedom, peace, and prosperity of South Korea,” he said. Conducted near the border with North Korea, the drills are designed to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The war game also marks the 70th anniversary of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. But Seoul's closeness to the United States has prompted warnings from Beijing that the country has made "wrong bets" in the Sino-U.S. rivalry. Seoul has been pivoting to a "hard-line stance" on China since Yoon took office. Last week, Seoul’s foreign ministry summoned China's envoy after he accused South Korea of tilting towards the United Statese and away from China.