US, South Korea Kick Off Joint Military Drills to Counter North Korean Threats

North Korea condemned the U.S.–South Korea joint drills as ‘the most offensive and provocative war drills for aggression in the world.’

U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Battalion prepare for a live-fire exercise in Pocheon, South Korea, on March 22, 2023. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

South Korea and the United States began a large-scale joint military drill on Aug. 19 that’s focused on enhancing their combined defense posture against North Korean threats.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, running until Aug. 29, will include computer-simulated exercises and field training, including live-fire drills.