The United States and South Korea have initiated their major annual joint military exercises, Ulchi Freedom Shield, on Monday, August 7. These drills, scheduled to conclude on August 29, are designed to enhance the allies’ defense posture against the nuclear-armed North Korea. This year’s exercises will focus on realistic threats across various domains, including the potential for North Korean missile attacks and GPS jamming, as highlighted by Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The drills aim to bolster the allies’ ability to deter and defend against weapons of mass destruction, according to the military.
Approximately 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in the exercises, engaging in operations across land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains, according to the South Korean Ministry of Defence. The ministry has not disclosed details of the US’s participation in the drills.
In recent months, North Korea has responded to anti-regime propaganda balloons sent from South Korea by launching thousands of trash-carrying balloons across the border and attempting to disrupt South Korean GPS signals. In response, the Seoul city government will simultaneously conduct civil defense exercises aimed at preparing for future trash balloon incidents and North Korean drone attacks.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed concerns about North Korea’s aggressive actions, stating, “We are currently facing the most reckless and irrational North Korean provocations and threats in the world.” He further noted North Korea’s recent history of GPS jamming attacks and low-level provocations, including the launching of trash balloons.
The US-South Korea joint military exercises have historically drawn ire from North Korea, which perceives them as preparations for an invasion. In retaliation, North Korea has frequently conducted weapons tests. On Sunday, North Korean state media denounced the drills as “dangerous and grave.” Last year, they issued warnings that the exercises could spark a “thermonuclear war” and launched several cruise and ballistic missiles in protest.
Kim Myung-soo, head of Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated that Pyongyang is likely to use the exercises as a pretext for provocative actions. He instructed troops to closely monitor the situation along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and respond immediately to any provocations.
The United States, as Seoul’s primary security ally, maintains a troop presence of approximately 28,500 soldiers in South Korea to protect it from its nuclear-armed neighbor. Both countries have a long history of conducting joint military exercises.
