The US and South Korea are set to launch their annual large-scale military exercise this month as both countries bolster their war readiness amid the looming threat of North Korea.
Ulchi Freedom Shield is scheduled to get underway on August 18 in a move that risks angering Pyongang and creating further tensions worldwide.
It represents the second major annual drill conducted in South Korea this year after a similar event took place in March.The exercise typically involves thousands of troops that participate in both computer-simulated command post training and combined field exercises.
Around 18,000 South Korean troops will be taking part, confirmed by the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman, Lee Sung Joon.
There was growing speculation South Korea’s new liberal government was considering downsising the exercise in the hope of accelerating reconciliation talks with Kim Jong Un.
More fuel was added to the fire when it was confirmed 40 originally planned field training programs were non-existent, only for Sung Joon to reveal they were postponed to September due to weather concerns.
It is understood the threat posed by Pyongyang’s growing nuclear arsenal and advancing missile technology will be the focus of the exercise.
While it will also incorporate lessons from various conflicts that have ravaged the world recently, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Iran war.
Drones, GPS jamming and cyber attacks are also claimed to be some of the threats the exercise will hope to address.
North Korea consistently criticises these drills, often labelling them as rehearsals for invasion as they use them to escalate their own military demonstrations and conduct various weapon tests—all of which is aimed at one of it’s main goals, supercharging its nuclear ambitions.
Pyongyang has regularly rejected Washington and Seoul’s calls to resume diplomacy and wind down its weapons program.
Instead, Kim Jong Un has opted to strengthen ties with Russia and Vladimir Putin, regularly sending troops and military equipment to support their Ukrainian war effort.
“We look across the globe at the challenges we may face on the battlefield and incorporate that so we can challenge the participants in the exercise,” said US Forces Korea public affairs director Ryan Donald.
“We are focused on ensuring the alliance is sustainable and credibly deters aggression from the DPRK and addresses the broader regional security challenges.”