SEOUL - The Republic of Korea(ROK) and US forces are planning to stage joint annual military drills next month to enhance defense readiness, officials here said Thursday.

The joint command post exercise "Key Resolve" will be held for two weeks starting March 11, bringing together 10,000 ROK troops and 3,500 American troops, according to the defense ministry.

The allies are also to launch field tactical training codenamed "Foal Eagle" starting March 1. The exercise, which involves 200,000 Korean and 10,000 American troops, will last until April 30.

The US-led Combined Forces Command (CFC) has notified the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of the plan to launch the drills, which are said to be  of defensive nature and not related to the DPRK's recent nuclear test.