South Korean and United States forces conducted a joint river-crossing exercise on Wednesday, mobilizing their engineer troops to lay a mobile pontoon bridge in a simulated combat situation, according to the military.

The combined drill, held at an army training center in Icheon, 80 kilometers south of Seoul, assembled some 130 engineer and anti-aircraft combat troops from the both countries as well as armored vIehicles, anti-aircraft missiles and mobile bridge systems.

The Wednesday exercise was part of a four-day river-crossing operation program the two countries' militaries began on Monday, the Army said.

The focus of the on-going exercise is on testing if the allied forces' floating bridge systems could be used interchangeably in a war situation.

Military bridge building is an important operation that can open a path for troops and armored vehicles so they cross river obstacles.

"This was the first time the militaries of South Korea and the U.S. have tested the interoperability of their river crossing equipment," the Army said.

South Korea's 7th Engineer Brigade and the U.S.' 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, which took part in the drill, signed an operational memorandum of agreement in which they agreed to hold a joint exercise between their engineer troops every six months, according to the Army. (Yonhap)