[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] End of FS... First Application of New Operational Plan

US-ROK Combined Exercise FS Ends on 14th... Partial Application of OPLAN 2022
Largest Ever Scale with 48 Joint Tactical Live-Fire Drills Conducted

The South Korea-U.S. joint exercise, "Freedom Shield" (FS), will conclude on the afternoon of the 14th. FS is a regular joint exercise conducted by the South Korean and U.S. military authorities for the defense of the Korean Peninsula, which has been underway since the 4th. This year’s exercise is notable for the first application of the operational plan (OPLAN) 2022, designed to counter North Korea’s nuclear weapons, and a significant increase in field maneuver training.

According to the military, this FS exercise was conducted based on scenarios reflecting changing threats and security situations, including recent lessons from war. Regarding the neutralization of North Korea’s nuclear threat, the South Korea-U.S. forces applied the concept of a North Korean nuclear threat response operation, for which they are currently developing detailed plans, focusing on deterring and preventing nuclear use. Twelve United Nations Command member countries, including Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, also participated in the exercise.

The detailed plan established by South Korea and the U.S. is called "Operational Plan (OPLAN) 2022." OPLAN 2022 is subdivided into detecting signs of North Korean nuclear use, deterring and preventing nuclear use, and responding in case of a nuclear attack, but it only covers situations prior to a nuclear attack. This year’s exercise practiced procedures to detect signs of nuclear weapon use through various intelligence means such as reconnaissance satellites, HUMINT (human intelligence), and SIGINT (signals intelligence), and to employ all measures, including diplomatic means, to prevent use. It is known that the full process of OPLAN 2022 will be applied in the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" (UFS) exercise scheduled for August.

Field maneuver training also increased significantly. Joint tactical live-fire exercises were conducted 48 times, the largest scale ever. This is more than double the 23 field maneuver exercises conducted last year. South Korea’s conventional forces and the U.S. nuclear forces conducted nuclear operation exercises through actual maneuvers or tabletop exercises. Additionally, this FS exercise drew attention with maritime special operations (MCSOF), precision strikes on North Korean long-range artillery, and cognitive warfare training to counter fake news.

North Korea was quieter compared to the past. Aside from attempting GPS signal jamming toward the south for three consecutive days starting on the 5th, the day after the exercise began, there were no military provocations. Chairman Kim Jong-un also showed moves to check the FS exercise by inspecting artillery firing training of the People’s Army units on the 6th and 7th. Last year, during the first half of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, North Korea launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) called "Hwasal." They also tested a new weapon system, the nuclear unmanned underwater vehicle "Haeil." During the joint exercises in the second half of the year, they responded by launching cruise missiles and military reconnaissance satellites.

Experts on North Korea analyze that North Korea considered China and Russia. China, North Korea’s traditional ally, was holding the "Two Sessions," the biggest political event of the year, and Russia’s presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin’s reelection was likely, was scheduled for the 17th, serving as factors restraining provocations. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "North Korea may have felt somewhat burdened to escalate tensions."

However, there is also an observation that it is difficult to fully assess North Korea’s response posture, given that the possibility of deploying U.S. strategic assets remains even after the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises conclude. North Korea conducted a total of 11 military provocations in January and February of this year alone.

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