The South Korean Ministry of Unification’s request has led to adjustments in the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, “Ulchi Freedom Shield” (UFS), which will take place from August 18 to 28. To prevent provoking North Korea, about half of the outdoor maneuver exercises (FTX) that usually occur during the UFS will be spread out in September instead.
On August 7, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command held a joint press conference at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, announcing the commencement of the UFS on August 18. They emphasized that the UFS is an annual defensive exercise intended to enhance the alliance’s response capabilities and readiness across all areas of combined and joint operations. The scale of this year’s exercise is similar to previous years, with approximately 18,000 South Korean troops participating and a similar number of U.S. troops as last year.
The UFS consists of command post exercises (CPX) based on simulations and field training exercises (FTX). Of the 40 planned FTX events during the UFS, about 20 will be postponed to September. These postponed exercises are mostly battalion-level or smaller, focusing on airfield protection, damage recovery, and equipment maintenance support.
Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun stated that the decision considered various factors, including ensuring training conditions under intense heat and maintaining a balanced defense posture throughout the year. He clarified that the decision was made through consultation between South Korea and the U.S.
A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Unification confirmed that some adjustments to the FTX were made following their recommendation. The official noted that reducing tensions and ensuring peace and stability is a primary goal for South Korea, hoping the exercise would contribute to easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.