In a first, South Korean general commands joint drills with U.S. troops

South Korean soldiers take part in an anti-terror drill as part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise at a subway station in Incheon, South Korea, August 24, 2022. REUTERS/Heo Ran

SEOUL (Reuters) - For the first time a South Korean general is commanding annual joint drills with American forces, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, a step toward Seoul's long-delayed goal of gaining command of allied forces in the event of a war.

The allies began on Monday their largest joint military drills in years, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, with a resumption of field training, aiming to strengthen readiness for potential weapons tests by North Korea.