World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
South Korea and US hold exercise on integrating nuclear and conventional forces
South Korean and US military officials held the Iron Mace planning exercise at South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters from September 29 to October 2.
The annual exercise focuses on coordinating US nuclear and South Korean conventional forces to deter and respond to North Korean nuclear threats.
It is part of efforts to carry out guidance from the two countries’ Nuclear Consultative Group, and was first held in August 2024.
Officials discussed how South Korean forces could support plans to deploy US nuclear-capable strategic assets, as well as ways to strengthen deterrence against North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
The US Forces Korea said the exercise offered a chance to discuss and improve planning, reflecting the allies’ commitment to maintaining credible deterrence.
Despite concerns that other joint drills might be cut after a US order to reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, major allied training has continued as planned, including the Freedom Edge drill in September and the Freedom Flag air exercise that began in October.
South Korean and US military authorities held a tabletop exercise on integrating nuclear and conventional forces to respond to North Korean nuclear threats.
The exercise, called Iron Mace, took place over four days from the 29th of the previous month through the 2nd.
It discussed ways to coordinate US nuclear forces with South Korean conventional forces, including support for deploying US nuclear-capable strategic assets.
The annual exercise is intended to implement joint guidelines from the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group.
US Forces Korea said the exercise offered an opportunity to discuss and improve planning for nuclear-conventional integration.
- Who
- South Korean and US military authorities.
- What
- They held the Iron Mace tabletop exercise on integrating nuclear and conventional forces.
- When
- From the 29th of the previous month through the 2nd, over four days. The article was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- At South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters.
- Why
- To respond to and deter North Korea’s nuclear threat and implement joint guidelines from the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
South Korea and the United States held the Iron Mace exercise for the first time.
The two countries held the latest four-day Iron Mace tabletop exercise at South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters.
- Exercise
- Iron Mace
- Duration
- Four days
- Venue
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters
- Purpose
- Implement joint guidelines from the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group
- First held
- August 2024
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What people are saying
provided an opportunity to discuss and improve plans related to nuclear-conventional integration
This exercise reflects the alliance’s continued commitment to maintaining credible deterrence and responding to the changing security environment