S.Korea, U.S. kick off joint military exercise

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : August 19, 2024, 14:18 Updated : August 27, 2024, 08:18
 
South Korean and U.S. soldiers participate in a joint military exercise, in this file photo taken in August 2022. Yonhap
SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea kicked off a joint military exercise with the U.S. on Monday. Dubbed the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), the annual exercise aims to defend the Korean Peninsula in the event of an emergency while strengthening combined defense capabilities.

Based on an all-out war scenario, the 11-day exercise includes computer-simulated war games, field training and civil defense drills.
 


The scale of the exercise, involving 19,000 troops, is similar to the previous year but features more field maneuvers and live-fire drills.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the exercise will enhance the readiness amid North Korea's provocations and nuclear and missile threats.

At a Cabinet meeting, President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the importance of bolstering readiness against North Korea's provocations such as GPS jamming and the launch of trash-filled balloons. He also warned that "war can break out any time," as seen in Ukraine and the Middle East.

"The exercise will be focused on mastering integrated procedures to respond to various crisis scenarios to deter North Korean provocations including psychological warfare and cyberattacks," Yoon added.

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