South Korea and the United States began their annual joint military drills today, seeking to boost their readiness against North Korea, which it says is ready for new missile tests.
The summer military drills, renamed the “Ulchi Freedom Shield” this year and scheduled to last until Sept. 1, come in the wake of a pledge by South Korean President Yun Suk-geol (who took office in May) to increase the force deterring his country against the North Korean threat.
The drills had been scaled back in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and as Yun’s predecessor sought to revive dialogue with the Pyongyang regime, which called the military high schools “invasion rehearsals”.
Last week, North Korea fired two cruise missiles from the (western) city of Onchon, after South Korea and the US began preliminary training for the drills. Kim Jong Un’s regime has conducted several missile tests this year and is reportedly ready to launch its seventh nuclear test at any time, according to Seoul officials.
The South Korean president has said his government is willing to provide financial aid to Pyongyang in exchange for denuclearization, but North Korea has emphatically rejected his offer.
As part of preparedness to counter North Korea’s growing threats, Seoul is speeding up the development of a new missile interception system.
The United States, South Korea and Japan recently held a joint military exercise off Hawaii to intercept enemy ballistic missiles.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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