American and South Korean military forces will be commencing their routine summer military exercises next week, in response to the military and cyber threats posed by North Korea, as revealed by authorities on Monday.
These exercises, known as the Ulchi Freedom Shield, are due to start on the 19th of August lasting until the 29th of August. They come at a crucial time when North Korea is persistently enhancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, along with attempting to send spy satellites.
The training drills are devised to simulate “realistic threats” encompassing everything from missile threats to GPS jamming and cyberattacks, in light of North Korea’s recent activities, according to a joint statement by both the US and South Korean military.
The coalition “will augment its readiness and position to deter and protect against weapons of mass destruction”, as mentioned by Col Lee Sung-jun, the spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff during an update.
Colonel Lee further revealed that the South Korean army will back concurrent government-led Ulchi civil defense exercises, with one going under the hypothetical condition of a nuclear assault from the North. Approximately 19,000 South Korean soldiers, which is a number similar to previous years, are expected to participate, involving 48 sessions of combined field training. This training includes live fire, field manoeuvring, and maritime operations, he added.
Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesperson for US Forces in Korea, stated that these annual exercises are one of the largest in the Indo-Pacific region and will be participated in by members of the United Nations Command.
On their end, North Korea has consistently criticised the allies for escalating tensions by conducting these military exercises, dubbing them practice for a forthcoming nuclear war. However, South Korea and the US assert that these exercises are merely defensive measures taken in response to threats from the North. – Courtesy of Reuters
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