Joint Military Exercises Between Seoul and Washington

South Korea and the United States began their annual summer military exercises on Monday, seeking to enhance their joint readiness to defend against North Korean weapons and cyber threats. The "Freedom Shield Ulchi" exercises, set to conclude on August 29, come as North Korea accelerates the development of its nuclear and missile programs and attempts to launch reconnaissance satellites. The militaries of both countries stated that the drills will reflect "realistic threats" across various fields, including the missile threats from North Korea as well as GPS jamming and cyberattacks, incorporating lessons learned from recent incidents. Officials noted that South Korea will simultaneously conduct separate Ulchi civil defense drills led by the government in a scenario of a nuclear attack from the North. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called for full preparedness against North Korea, describing it as "the most reckless and irrational state in the world." He added during a government meeting, "As we have seen in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, war can break out at any moment." Yoon mentioned that approximately 19,000 South Korean soldiers will participate in the maneuvers, similar to last year, with 48 rounds of joint field training exercises, including field maneuvers, live-fire drills, and amphibious training.