- Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise to involve around 18,000 South Korean troops as allies strengthen readiness against evolving threats
SEOUL: South Korean and US forces are set to begin their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises next week, seeking to strengthen joint readiness against growing threats from North Korea, days after Pyongyang resumed ballistic missile testing in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The 11-day exercise will begin next Monday and will maintain a scale broadly similar to previous years, with approximately 18,000 South Korean troops expected to participate, South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young told reporters on Monday.
US military spokesperson Ryan Donald, speaking at the same briefing, said the exercise would incorporate realistic scenarios and lessons drawn from recent armed conflicts to enhance the allies’ operational capabilities.
“By incorporating realistic threats, including lessons from recent conflicts, the exercise provides an opportunity to further strengthen the alliance’s readiness and capabilities through combined, joint, all-domain operations,” Donald said.
North Korean Experience in Ukraine War Raises Concerns
Donald pointed to North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying the battlefield experience gained by North Korean personnel could influence Pyongyang’s military capabilities.
“DPRK soldiers have been deployed and fought in Ukraine, and they’ve taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea,” Donald said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“That changes the DPRK capability, and our training accounts for that threat,” he added.
The comments underscore growing concerns among South Korea, the United States and their allies that North Korean troops deployed to Russia may have acquired valuable battlefield experience that could strengthen Pyongyang’s military preparedness.
One of Two Major Annual Joint Exercises
Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of the two principal combined military exercises conducted annually by South Korea and the United States. The allies also hold major joint training exercises during the spring.
According to the US military, the exercise incorporates live, virtual, constructive and field-based training, designed to improve coordination and interoperability between the two militaries across multiple operational domains.
Seoul and Washington maintain that their joint military exercises are defensive in nature and intended to deter aggression and strengthen the alliance’s ability to respond to potential security threats.
North Korea Condemns US-South Korean Military Drills
North Korea has consistently condemned major US-South Korean military exercises, portraying them as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory. Pyongyang has frequently responded to such drills with weapons tests and strongly worded threats.
North Korea had not immediately issued a response to the announcement of the upcoming exercise.
Tensions have nevertheless risen following Pyongyang’s latest ballistic missile launch.
North Korea Resumes Ballistic Missile Testing
On Thursday, South Korea, the United States and Japan detected the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from North Korea, marking Pyongyang’s first ballistic weapons test since late June.
The missile reportedly landed in waters off North Korea’s eastern coast.
South Korea and Japan condemned the launch as a provocation and security threat, noting that multiple UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting ballistic missile-related activities.
The US military’s Pacific command reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to defending the US homeland and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pyongyang Expands Nuclear and Missile Capabilities
North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear weapons and missile programs since high-level diplomacy between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019.
Security analysts say Kim may view an expanded nuclear and missile arsenal as a means of strengthening his bargaining position and securing greater concessions from Washington in any future negotiations.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia has added another layer of concern for South Korea and the United States.
Pyongyang has supplied troops and ammunition to Russia, prompting concerns that Moscow could provide North Korea with sensitive military technologies capable of advancing its nuclear and missile programs.
Experts have also assessed that North Korean troops’ participation in the Ukraine conflict could provide Pyongyang with valuable real-world combat experience, potentially influencing its future military planning, training and capabilities.
BY: The Times Union
