Military Exercises of South Korea and the USA Have Begun

• The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will last for 11 days.
• North Korea threatens retaliation to military maneuvers.
• Lee Jae-myung plans to restore the military agreement of 2018.

Seoul, South Korea — South Korea and the USA have begun their joint large-scale military exercises on Monday to better respond to threats from North Korea's nuclear arsenal. These exercises, which will last for 11 days, under the name Ulchi Freedom Shield, are one of two large trainings being conducted this summer in South Korea, and they will involve 21,000 troops, including 18,000 South Koreans.

The exercises, which allies describe as defensive, may provoke a response from North Korea. South Korean Defense Minister No Kwan-chul stated that these exercises demonstrate the allies' position regarding "military confrontation" with the North.

In the context of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula, the new president of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, is preparing for a summit with US President Donald Trump on September 25. Trump expressed a commitment to a possible review of the bilateral alliance, demanding higher contributions from the presence of American troops.

North Korea condemned the closure of Lee's diplomatic office, and relations between the countries have worsened due to the intensification of the South Korean military program. Lee also intends to restore the military agreement of 2018, which was designed to reduce heightened tensions.

South Korea suspended this agreement in 2024 due to the launch of North Korean satellite missiles to the South. The South Korean defense ministry confirmed that there are no plans to suspend the exercises, regardless of attempts to restore the agreement.

During the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, only half of the 44 training programs planned for August will be implemented due to weather conditions and the postponement of training fields.

General Kwon Young-se, commander of American forces in Korea, stressed the need to "modernize" the alliance to respond to the changing security environment, including nuclear threats from North Korea and threats from China.

Tags: USA/Politics