19,000 US and South Korean troops enter Ulchi Freedom Shield 2024 exercise

The South Korean and US militaries have kicked off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield 2024 (UFS 2024) exercise, which will take place from August 19 to 29, to enhance joint defense readiness.

Image from the Ulchi Freedom Shield 2023 exercise last August.

Yonhap news agency reported that according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), UFS 2024 is based on an all-out war scenario, including computer-simulated command exercises, field training and civil defense exercises.

UFS 2024 - similar in scale to last year's with the participation of about 19,000 South Korean and US troops - will include 48 field training activities, such as amphibious landings and live-fire exercises, up from 38 field events conducted in 2023.

The number of brigade-level exercises will also increase to 17 events, compared to four exercises last year.

The JCS said that UFS 2024 will continue to strengthen the capabilities and combat readiness of the ROK-US alliance and counter weapons of mass destruction through training activities on various fronts - including land, sea, air, cyber and space.

In addition to the South Korean and US militaries, member countries of the United Nations Command (UNC) will participate in this exercise, while the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will conduct supervision to ensure compliance with the Korean War Armistice Agreement.

The UFS is one of the largest exercises in the Indo- Pacific region. This year, it is the first joint exercise to be held since the ROK and the US adopted the “Joint Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence Operations on the Korean Peninsula.”

However, the two countries' militaries emphasized that the Korean-US nuclear war scenario is not included in this exercise.

North Korea has long criticized the joint US-South Korea military exercises as a rehearsal for invasion against it. However, both Sorul and Washington have denied the accusation, describing their exercises as defensive in nature.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/19000-quan-my-va-han-quoc-buoc-vao-cuoc-tap-tran-la-chan-tu-do-ulchi-2024-283118.html