Overview
- Command post exercises for Ulchi Freedom Shield will run from Aug. 18 to 28 with about 18,000 South Korean and several thousand U.S. personnel.
- Military officials described the UFS drills as defensive operations designed to strengthen wartime readiness, civil safety response and cyber defense.
- Twenty of forty scheduled field training events were deferred to September to address extreme heat and support diplomatic gestures toward North Korea.
- A report by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses cautioned that unilateral changes to the exercise schedule could erode U.S.-ROK alliance trust and diminish Seoul's bargaining position.
- Forces from U.N. Command member states will join the drills and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will observe compliance with the Korean War armistice.