Seoul: South Korea and the US have conducted a combined counterfire exercise aimed at deterring North Korea's artillery threats in the greater Seoul area, the South Korean Army said Thursday.

According to Qatar News Agency, some 250 South Korean and US troops took part in the three-day command post exercise, aimed at training them on operating surveillance and ground artillery assets in an integrated manner, the Army's Ground Operations Command said.

Officers who took part in the drills said the training helped enhance their interoperability and strengthen their readiness posture.

South Korea and the US typically hold major joint exercises twice a year, in the spring and summer, as well as smaller-scale drills throughout the year.

The combined counterfire exercise was first launched in 1994.