South Korea and the United States launched a joint anti-biological exercise on Monday to step up their combined response to potential biological attacks, the Ministry of National Defense said.

The three-day Able Response 15 exercise will involve the defense departments of the allies as well as the local health ministry and dozens of other institutions, according to the ministry.

"The latest South Korea-U.S. biological defense exercise will examine and enhance the countries' combined response system regarding the naturally- or intentionally-raised biological threats that can take place on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said in a news release.

The allies have been conducting the anti-bio exercise every year since 2011 amid increasing potential threats from North Korea's biochemical weapons.

The ministry plans to allow reporters to watch the execution of the drill on Wednesday, a rare opening of the conventionally off-limits event. (Yonhap)