South Korea, US begin joint military exercises -DW
South Korea and the United States began the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise on Monday, aimed at strengthening readiness against North Korean threats.
Both countries say the 11-day military program, which includes computer simulations and field training involving 21,000 troops, is defensive in nature.
However, Pyongyang has condemned the exercises as a “military confrontation” last week in a statement and vowed to respond to any “any provocation.”
A similar round of drills between the US and South Korea was held earlier in March.
The North has often used such drills as a pretext for missile launches or other military demonstrations.
In 2023, Pyongyang staged a simulated “tactical nuclear attack” drill as a response to US-South Korea military exercises.
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The joint drill comes at a sensitive time for South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, ahead of his August 25 summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Trump has previously demanded higher payments for the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea.
The Trump administration has signaled possible changes to the decades-old alliance as Washington shifts its strategic focus toward China.
There is added pressure on the South Korean president as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected Seoul’s overtures of diplomacy and accelerated his weapons program and deepened military ties with Russia, including sending troops to the Ukrainian front.
