US Army generals propose larger-footprint, more frequent military exercises in Korea

A military exercise is a planned training activity in which forces practice responding to threats, coordinating operations, and defending territory. It helps commanders find weaknesses before a real crisis. In this case, distributed training means practicing across many locations rather than gathering mainly at large command posts.

Brunson said the usual Korean exercises focus on two large command posts. He and Gen. Kim Sung-min want forces to operate in a distributed fashion. A possible exercise could run from Jeju Island to Gyeonggi Province, nearly 300 miles apart. Units would practice changing positions and coordinating across the peninsula.

The approach reflects lessons from Ukraine, where forces face a broad, changing battlefield. Brunson said troops should avoid becoming fixed targets. The generals are considering wider exercises and additional training between the two major annual exercises. This could improve readiness while making U.S. and South Korean forces more difficult to strike effectively.

Gen. Xavier Brunson proposed changing both the size and timing of U.S.-South Korean exercises. He said forces should move beyond two large command-post events and train in a distributed fashion. That means practicing operations across a wider area and from changing positions.

One possible exercise would extend from Jeju Island to Gyeonggi Province, nearly 300 miles across the peninsula. Brunson also raised the idea of holding exercises between the two major annual events. He cited a recent troop-free drill that examined how a mass garrison evacuation might work during a major threat.

The proposal responds to changing warfare in Ukraine and growing coordination among U.S. adversaries, including Russia, China, and North Korea. It does not necessarily replace the existing exercises. Instead, it would add geographic reach, more varied scenarios, and more frequent practice while preserving readiness throughout the year.

The proposed training area could stretch from Jeju Island to Gyeonggi Province, a distance of nearly 300 miles. That would cover almost the full length of the Korean peninsula. Brunson presented it as an example of how training could become more geographically dispersed.

The current model centers on two big exercises every year. Brunson said these events largely focus on large command posts. He suggested using the periods between them for additional training, including smaller drills and different scenarios. One recent exercise practiced a mass garrison evacuation without troops.

The scale matters because a wider exercise can test coordination across distant locations. It can also force units to practice moving and operating without remaining fixed in one place. Hilbert said joint training continues during the year, apart from changes to the August Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. Army units were still training on South Korean ranges.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has shown commanders the importance of operating across a broad, changing battlefield. Brunson referred to the “distributed fight” and said forces must learn from the threats and methods seen there. The lesson is not simply to hold bigger drills, but to change how forces organize and move.

In Korea, the two major annual exercises largely focus on large command posts. Brunson said commanders want to move away from that pattern. He and Gen. Kim Sung-min discussed operating in a distributed fashion, potentially across the peninsula. Troops could practice changing positions rather than remaining concentrated at one site.

Brunson also said U.S. adversaries are sharing information, while Russia continues its war in Ukraine. He warned that opponents may apply battlefield lessons elsewhere. More frequent and geographically broad training could help U.S. and South Korean forces recognize those methods, improve readiness, and avoid presenting a single, predictable target.

A concentrated force is easier to threaten because many people and command functions occupy the same place. Distributed operations reduce that concentration. They place units and command posts across multiple locations, making it harder for an adversary to disrupt the entire force at once.

Brunson suggested training across the peninsula, from Jeju Island to Gyeonggi Province. He said forces should not be “moored in place” and might need to change locations during competition, crisis, or conflict. The exercise would test whether units can coordinate while separated and still maintain operational control.

This approach is tied to lessons from Ukraine and the possibility that adversaries could use similar battlefield knowledge in Korea. It does not make forces impossible to target. It aims to reduce the advantage of a single, predictable target and improve positional advantage. Additional exercises could help commanders practice movement, dispersion, and coordination before a crisis.

President Donald Trump intervened to scale back joint exercises with South Korea because he said he did not want to upset his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. His Aug. 16 Truth Social post appeared to suggest a broad reduction in exercises.

The military’s account was narrower. Lt. Gen. Joe Hilbert said the order applied to one August exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield. Its live portion was cut in half, and some joint elements became unilateral. Hilbert maintained that joint training more broadly continued, including Army units training on South Korean ranges.

Brunson’s plans pointed in the opposite direction from a broad reduction. He proposed larger geographic exercises and more training between the two major annual events. Hilbert said forces would continue building readiness throughout the year, while watching how warfare changes in Ukraine and the Middle East and how North Korea responds.

Military exercises contribute to readiness by giving forces repeated practice before a crisis. They test plans, communications, leadership, movement, and cooperation. In this alliance, that preparation supports the stated mission of defending the Republic of Korea and the United States.

The article gives several examples. U.S. and South Korean forces conduct two major exercises each year, while a recent troop-free drill examined mass garrison evacuation during a major threat. Brunson also proposed training across the peninsula and operating from changing positions. These activities practice coordination under realistic, distributed conditions.

Exercises can also strengthen deterrence because they show that allied forces are prepared to respond together. The article does not claim that exercises prevent conflict. It shows commanders using them to build readiness and stay ahead of changing tactics. Hilbert said training continues throughout the year, even after changes to one August exercise.