South Korea, US to Launch Ulchi Freedom Shield Drills on Aug. 17

South Korea and the United States will launch their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise on August 17, 2026, the allies announced Monday, as they adapt their training to address an evolving threat environment shaped by North Korea's military cooperation with Russia. The 11-day drill, scheduled to run through August 27, comes just days after Pyongyang conducted its first ballistic missile test in nearly two months.

The exercise will involve approximately 18,000 South Korean troops, a scale similar to previous years, and will feature a mix of live, virtual, constructive, and field-based training. Military officials emphasized that the drills are defensive in nature and designed to strengthen the alliance's readiness through combined, joint, and all-domain operations. A key focus will be incorporating lessons from recent conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine, to prepare for modern warfare scenarios involving drones, GPS disruption, cyberattacks, and electronic warfare.

"The exercise will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the alliance's readiness and capabilities," said U.S. military spokesperson Colonel Ryan Donald at a joint press conference. He...