SEOUL, South Korea, September 9 (Reuters) — The United States and South Korea on Wednesday (September 9) conducted a joint biological defense exercise, called “Able Response 15”, in a bid to improve their capabilities to deter possible biological attacks.
The exercise is aimed at checking the combined response system and to enhance alliance between the two armies, the South Korean defense ministry said.
“The purpose of today’s FTX (Field Training Exercise) is to enhance R.O.K (Republic of Korea) – U.S. biological defence capabilities to deter biological attacks,” South Korean Colonel Shin Tae-won said.
“The exercise aims to improve coordination between U.S. and South Korean governments, related organizations, and military forces and to understand the procedure when a biological attack happens,” Shin added.
The three-day exercise kicked off on Monday (September 7) at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul and involved about 200 officials representing 40 U.S. and South Korean government and military bodies.
U.S. and South Korea have conducted the Able Response Exercise every year since 2011.
