The U.S. and South Korean militaries have begun joint exercises aimed at practicing blocking and storming underground tunnels similar to those used by North Korea. The maneuvers involve drones and robotic systems, including four-legged robots resembling dogs, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported. The exercises began on March 17 and will run through March 20, with 370 troops from both countries participating. 

According to the South Korean newspaper, the focus on such operations has been driven by the conflict in the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian militants have successfully resisted the Israeli army using an extensive network of underground shelters. The training is taking place at the Mugeon-ri training ground in Gyeonggi Province, 23 kilometers from the border with North Korea, and includes a simulated capture of a facility suspected of storing weapons of mass destruction. During the exercises, American and South Korean troops practice joint operations, using drones for reconnaissance and attack, as well as robotic platforms for safe movement in confined spaces. 

The maneuvers were part of the annual Freedom Shield program, which began March 10 and aims to strengthen cooperation among allies to counter threats from Pyongyang. This year, the focus is on using advanced technologies such as autonomous systems and robotics. South Korea’s 25th Infantry Division, known as the Tiger Brigade, fielded for the first time unmanned ground vehicles developed under the Tiger 4.0 military modernization program. The initiative, launched in 2019, calls for an investment of 1,25 trillion won (about $859 million) by 2030 to develop robotic combat systems. 

According to The Korea Herald, during the drills, U.S. troops used the PackBot robot to detect chemical and biological threats, while South Korean forces used the four-legged robots to conduct reconnaissance in high-rise buildings. Operation commander Lt. Col. Ma Dong-hyuk stressed that such training increases the compatibility of the two countries' forces in combating potential threats, including underground fortifications in the DPRK that intelligence reports indicate are used to store weapons and conduct covert operations. 

North Korea has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to create tunnel systems, raising concerns in Seoul and Washington. In 2023, Pyongyang tested an underwater drone capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, heightening concerns about its military ambitions.