[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] US-ROK Combined Exercises in the Second Half Starting from the 21st

UFS Training Period Includes Over 30 Combined Field Maneuvers
First Inclusion of UN Command Member Nations' Participation Plan Statement

South Korean and U.S. defense authorities will conduct the joint exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield" (UFS) from the 21st to the 31st to establish a combined defense posture.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 14th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that this exercise will be based on scenarios reflecting the evolving security situation, including North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and the war in Ukraine, to conduct realistic drills and further strengthen the alliance's response capabilities.

The joint exercise will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will take place over five days from the 21st to the 25th, and Phase 2 will be held over four days from the 28th to the 31st.

During the UFS exercise period, South Korea and the U.S. plan to conduct more than 30 various combined field maneuvers, including combined integrated fire drills and Air Force paired flight training. The number of combined field maneuvers during UFS has significantly increased from 13 last year. It has also risen compared to the 25 drills conducted during the Freedom Shield (FS) and Warrior Shield (WS) exercises in the first half of this year. This is interpreted as an effort to enhance combined response capabilities in light of the heightened North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Participants in this exercise include UN Command member countries such as Australia, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission plans to monitor the exercise process in accordance with the armistice agreement. This is the first time that the participation plans of UN Command member countries have been included in a joint statement by South Korea and the U.S.

The military plans to strengthen surveillance and readiness against North Korean provocations, such as ballistic missile launches, during the joint exercise period. Since last year, North Korea has designated South Korea and the U.S. as "enemies" and has continued various provocative actions. Ahead of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise, which officially begins on the 16th with preliminary drills, North Korea appears to be escalating its level of actions.

At the expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission held on the 9th, detailed military countermeasures against the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise were discussed, including plans to attack the Gyeryongdae area, where the combined headquarters of the Army, Navy, and Air Force are located in Seoul.

North Korea is expected to carry out "counter-provocations" in response to the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint exercise. Since this joint exercise is scheduled to be held at an unprecedented scale to mark the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, North Korea is also expected to escalate the level of provocations to the highest degree. Additionally, there is a possibility of provocations in response to the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit meeting to be held in the U.S. on the 18th, and North Korea's tension-raising moves are likely to unfold as early as later this week.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.