Anchor: South Korea and the United States have conducted a joint military drill to rehearse removing weapons of mass destruction from North Korea. Given the sensitivity of inter-Korean relations at the moment, the exercises were reportedly held on a smaller scale. 
Oh Soo-young tells us more.

Report: South Korea and the United States conducted joint military training aimed at identifying and removing North Korea's weapons of mass destruction(WMD) in the event of conflict.

The South Korean military said Thursday that the two allies had recently carried out their regular "Warrior Strike" exercise around U.S. bases in the nation. 

The exercise is held regularly and involves hundreds of troops rehearsing the removal of a WMD by infiltrating a mock-up facility located in an underground tunnel.

Last May, the war game included a ship-to-shore air assault involving South Korea's Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship.

This year, however, the exercise was reportedly held on a smaller scale, which observers believe is due to the mood for dialogue between the two Koreas that was created ahead of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games which will begin next Friday.

North Korea has continuously called on the South to halt its military drills with the U.S., namely the annual springtime exercises the "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle" which mobilize tens of thousands of troops on land, at sea, and in the air.

At President Moon Jae-in's request, Seoul and Washington agreed to postpone the two drills to defuse tensions with North Korea during the period of the PyeongChang Olympics.

Last week, South Korean and U.S. officials confirmed the drills will proceed as usual this spring but stopped short of unveiling exact dates or scopes.

The two governments are said to be mulling holding the drills in early April.
Oh Soo-young, KBS World Radio News.