Page 115 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Combined Exercises and Training To maintain military readiness posture
under the combined defense system
and to enhance the warfighting capabilities of combined forces, the ROK and the
US have been reinforcing combined exercises and training with an emphasis on
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upgrading the combat readiness posture and capabilities to execute and sustain
combined operations. Since 2019 considering the changing security situations, the
ROK and the US are conducting a new combined command post training (CCPT)
biannually (first and second half of the year) which replacing the Key Resolve (KR) Chapter 3
exercise and the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise. The CCPT is a ROK–
US combined theater-level CPX conducted to assess the combined defense posture
and gain proficiency in implementing warfighting procedures through a computer-
simulated battlefield scenario.
In preparation for wartime OPCON transition, the JCS took the lead in 2017 and
2018 in the areas of planning, operation of opposing forces, and after-action review
thereby developing the capabilities to conduct theater-level combined exercises led
by the ROK Armed Forces. In particular, the Initial Operational Capability (IOC)
certification assessment was concurrently conducted during CCPT in the second
half of 2019 thereby practicing the ability to lead combined operations with a future
command structure.
With the CCPTs conducted twice a year, the ROK Armed Forces will firmly
maintain the ROK–US combined defense posture, improve the ROK Armed Forces’
operational capabilities, and conduct certification assessment under the future
command structure to meet the conditions for wartime OPCON transition.

Although the Foal Eagle (FE) training was a key exercise to improve ROK–
US combined operational capabilities, it came to an end in 2019 under the mutual
agreement between the ROK MND and the US DoD, as part of the military’s support
towards the effort to induce North Korea’s denuclearization. Nevertheless, the ROK
Armed forces has conducted separate combined exercises throughout the year, 51)
making every effort to maintain a robust combined defense posture. Cooperative relationship
between the military
Since 2018, the ROK Armed Forces has implemented the Joint Training System units or government
organizations of two or
(JTS) –a theater-level exercise and training system–in the headquarters of each more allied nations
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service, operations commands, and joint units for a systematic management of the 52)
The JTS was introduced
training system. Various war-game models for joint and combined exercises were to the JCS in 2012, the
Operations Command in
also developed and applied to improve the ROK Armed Forces’ ability to conduct 2017, and the headquarters
of each service and joint
and to continuously develop efficient combined exercises and training measures. units in 2018.

Chapter 3. Safeguarding Peace by Establishing a Robust Defense Posture Against Omnidirectional Security Threats 113