South Korea and the United States are set to begin their annual summertime military drills next week aimed at enhancing their ability to counter North Korea’s weapons and cyber threats. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled to take place from August 19 to 29, are being conducted in the backdrop of North Korea’s continuous development of its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its attempts to launch reconnaissance satellites. The drills will encompass “realistic threats” across various domains, including missile threats from the North, GPS jamming, cyberattacks, and insights gained from recent incidents, as stated in a joint military announcement by both countries, reported Reuters.
The alliance “will further strengthen its capability and posture to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction,” Colonel Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a press briefing.
Lee said the South Korean military would also support the simultaneous government-led Ulchi civil defence drills, one of which is set in the North’s nuclear attack scenario.
He said that about 19,000 South Korean troops, similar to last year, will participate in 48 rounds of combined field training, including field manoeuvres, live fire, and amphibious exercises.
Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesperson of U.S Forces Korea, underscored the scale and significance of the annual exercises, which are among the largest in the Indo-Pacific region. He also highlighted the international cooperation involved, with member states of the United Nations Command joining in.
Pyongyang has long criticized the allies for stoking tensions with military drills, calling them rehearsals for a nuclear war. Seoul and Washington say the exercises are defensive and a response to the North’s threats.
Team BharatShakti (With Inputs from Reuters)
