The United States and South Korea on Monday kicked off a combined arms exercise that had been scaled back in recent years over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and after failed attempts for a rapprochement with North Korea over Pyongyang’s ambitions to become a nuclear power.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) maneuvers are set to run through Sept. 1 and involve thousands of land, sea and air forces from the U.S. and South Korea. The troops will take part in a number of field training and contingency exercises along with command post drills, officials said.
In addition to exercises focusing on repelling North Korean attacks, Ulchi Freedom Shield will incorporate a number of other scenarios, including the discovery of explosive devices at a nuclear power plant; a fire at a semiconductor factory; and hacking of the nation’s banking computer network, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to strengthen deterrence against threats from North Korea and revitalize combined exercises when he entered office in May.
North Korea has condemned Ulchi Freedom Shield as a “dress rehearsal for an invasion,” according to media reports.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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