SEOUL / Beijing - Forces of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States conducted a joint military drill on Wednesday, the first ROK-led exercise as the allies prepare for the planned transfer of Seoul's wartime operation command.

More than 800 troops from the ROK's tank battalion and two US squadrons engaged in mobile and free-fighting training at the Mugeonri military training field, north of Seoul.

The ROK mobilized 40 K-1 tanks, four K-200 and K-242 armored cars, three K-277 armored vehicles, two self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and eight rescue vehicles. Twenty-eight US M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles and rescue vehicles were also involved.

The four-day exercise at a shooting range near the demilitarized zone separating the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the ROK was the first commanded by the ROK military, which is scheduled to retake its wartime operational control, currently held by the United States until 2015.

Seoul's wartime operational control was given to the US-led United Nations Command at the outbreak of the 1950-1953 Korean War, and was later transferred to the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.

Around 28,500 US troops have been stationed in Seoul since the war.

The ROK and the DPRK have occasionally seen tensions heightened. But international community efforts for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula have never stopped.

Wi Sung-lac, the ROK's top envoy to the stalled Six-Party Talks, is scheduled to meet China's representative to the talks, Wu Dawei, on Thursday to discuss the DPRK nuclear issue and inter-Korean relations, according to China's foreign ministry.

Xinhua-China Daily