South Korea, US Launch Ulchi Freedom Shield Amid North Korean Tensions

South Korea and the United States kicked off their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise today, a large-scale military drill aimed at countering escalating threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. The 11-day exercise, running through August 28, involves 21,000 troops, including 18,000 South Koreans, and features computer-simulated command post operations, field training, and civil defense drills. The allies describe the exercise as defensive, but North Korea has condemned it as a “direct military provocation,” warning of potential retaliation.

The UFS, the second of two major annual drills following exercises in March, incorporates “realistic” scenarios to enhance joint readiness across air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains. This year’s focus includes deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, countering drones, GPS jamming, and cyberattacks, and drawing lessons from conflicts like Russia’s war in Ukraine and clashes between Israel and Iran. Notably, about half of the planned 44 field training programs have been postponed to September due to heat concerns and flood-damaged training fields, despite speculation in South Korean media that the delay aims to facilitate diplomacy with Pyongyang.

North Korea’s Defense Minister No Kwang-chol denounced the drills last week, stating they reflect a “military confrontation” stance and vowing to counter “any provocation going beyond the boundary line.” Pyongyang has historically used such exercises as a pretext for weapons tests, with last year’s UFS prompting ballistic missile launches it claimed were rehearsals for “scorched earth” nuclear strikes. The regime’s growing military ties with Russia, including troop and equipment support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, have heightened concerns, with U.S. and South Korean officials emphasizing the need to address this alignment.

Also Read: South Korea, US Launch Drills to Counter North Korean Threats

The exercise coincides with a critical moment for South Korea’s new liberal President Lee Jae-myung, who assumed office in June 2025 and is preparing for an August 25 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Lee has pushed to restore a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement to reduce border tensions, but North Korea, under Kim Jong-un, has rejected these overtures, labeling South Korea a “permanent enemy” and deepening ties with Russia. The 2018 agreement, which established buffer zones and no-fly areas, was suspended in 2024 after North Korea’s trash-laden balloon launches, prompting South Korea to resume frontline activities. The South’s Defense Ministry clarified today that no immediate plans exist to halt live-fire training near the disputed maritime border.

Tensions are further complicated by concerns over the U.S.-South Korea alliance under Trump’s second term. Trump has long demanded higher payments for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, and comments from officials like Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby suggest a potential restructuring. This could shift more responsibility to South Korea for countering North Korea while U.S. forces focus on China, possibly reducing American presence and increasing Seoul’s costs and risks. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, stressed modernizing the alliance to address North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and regional threats from China.

The UFS also includes a four-day civil defense drill mobilizing 580,000 civilians, with a nationwide anti-air raid exercise planned for Wednesday. The participation of United Nations Command member states and oversight by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission ensure compliance with the Korean War armistice. Posts on X reflect heightened regional tensions, with North Korea’s military reportedly conducting artillery drills in response, signaling its readiness to “curb military bandits across the border.”

As the Korean Peninsula braces for potential North Korean provocations, the UFS underscores the U.S.-South Korea alliance’s resolve to maintain a robust defense posture. However, with diplomatic efforts stalled and Trump’s upcoming summit with Lee, the exercise highlights both the strength and fragility of the alliance amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Also Read: South Korea, US Launch Drills to Counter North Korean Threats