South Korea, US to conduct joint military drills

South Korea and the United States will commence their annual joint military exercises next week, emphasizing enhanced readiness to deter and defend against escalating North Korean nuclear threats.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled from August 19 to 29, will feature a combination of computer-simulated drills and live-fire field manoeuvres, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

The exercises are designed to bolster defence capabilities against a range of threats, including missile attacks, GPS jamming, and cyber warfare.

North Korea, which views these drills as provocative rehearsals for invasion, has historically used such military cooperation as justification for advancing its nuclear and missile programs.

South Korean military officials have announced that approximately 19,000 South Korean troops will participate, highlighting the importance of these exercises in maintaining a robust defence posture. Ryan Donald, spokesperson for US Forces Korea, did not disclose the number of US troops involved or confirm the deployment of US strategic assets. However, the United States has recently increased its regional military presence, deploying long-range bombers, submarines, and aircraft carrier strike groups in joint training operations with South Korean and Japanese forces.