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South Korea and the United States are set to kick off their annual joint military exercises next week.
More on the joint military drills: The “Ulchi Freedom Shield” joint exercises are annual military drills conducted by South Korea and the United States to strengthen their ability to deter and defend against North Korean threats, particularly nuclear and missile attacks. Running from August 19-29, these exercises include computer-simulated scenarios and live-fire drills to enhance readiness against threats like missile attacks, GPS jamming, and cyberattacks. The drills involve around 19,000 South Korean troops, along with an unspecified number of U.S. military personnel.
How will North Korea react?: North Korea regularly condemns the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises as provocative rehearsals for invasion, often responding with increased hostility and military displays. This year, the drills are likely to heighten tensions on the already volatile Korean Peninsula. Last year, in response to these exercises, North Korea conducted missile tests, claiming they were prepared to turn South Korea into “scorched earth.”
What the US is saying: In a statement, Ryan Donald, a spokesman for US Forces Korea, said, “This exercise will reflect realistic threats across all domains, such as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile threats, and we will take in lessons learned from recent armed conflicts. ROK and US units will execute combined field training exercises across all domains. Field maneuver and live fire exercises will strengthen the alliance’s interoperability while showcasing our combined capabilities and resolve.”
Digging Deeper: Over the past year, tensions between North and South Korea have escalated, highlighted by unusual actions from the North. North Korea has been launching thousands of balloons filled with trash—and even some with human shit—into South Korea. These are in response to South Korean activists who have been sending balloons into North Korea carrying anti-regime leaflets, USB drives, and other materials critical of the North Korean government. In retaliation, the South Korean government has resumed loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, criticizing the North Korean regime. This ongoing exchange has intensified the already high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
