South Korea and the US have started their annual summer military drills aimed at preparing for North Korea’s military and cyber threats, Reuters reports.
These exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, will run until August 29 and focus on dealing with North Korea’s missile threats, GPS jamming, and cyberattacks.
South Korea will also conduct its own Ulchi civil defense drills, simulating a nuclear attack from North Korea.
President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the need for strong readiness, describing North Korea as “the most reckless and irrational country in the world.”
He noted that modern warfare now includes a mix of traditional combat, irregular tactics, cyber attacks, and misinformation.
Around 19,000 South Korean troops will participate in various training activities, including field maneuvers and live-fire exercises.
North Korea has criticized these drills as provocative rehearsals for nuclear conflict, but Seoul and Washington insist they are defensive in nature.
Credit : Reuters