South Korea and the United States commenced their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises on Monday, aiming to enhance their joint defense capabilities against North Korea’s evolving threats, including nuclear and missile advancements, and cyberattacks. The drills, scheduled to conclude on August 29, will focus on addressing “realistic threats” such as missile attacks, GPS jamming, and cyber threats, drawing on recent experiences and incidents.
In addition to these exercises, South Korea will conduct the Ulchi civil defense drills, simulating a response to a potential nuclear attack from the North. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the need for rigorous preparedness, describing North Korea as “the most reckless and irrational country in the world” and highlighting the evolving nature of warfare, which now includes hybrid tactics like cyber and psychological warfare.
Approximately 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in the drills, which include 48 rounds of combined field training involving maneuvers, live fire exercises, and amphibious operations. Despite Pyongyang’s consistent condemnation of these exercises as provocations and rehearsals for nuclear war, Seoul and Washington assert that their military drills are purely defensive and necessary to counter North Korea’s ongoing threats.