The commander of the U.S. Army in the Pacific says South Korea, the United States and Japan are seeking to hold a joint military drill.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon said Wednesday that the militaries of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan are discussing ways to conduct a joint exercise aimed at boosting capabilities related to humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Mixon added that South Korean ground forces’ participation in this month’s Cobra Gold drill in Thailand will provide them with more opportunities to take part in bilateral or multilateral joint military drills.

Mixon is the senior American officer at the annual Cobra Gold exercises in Thailand.

The Cobra Gold drill first began in 1981 under the leadership of the U.S. Pacific Command and Thailand’s military.

South Korea has participated in the drill, which opens this month on February eleventh, as an observer since 2002. This year marks the nation's first full-scale participation.