SEOUL: South Korea and the United States have started key joint military exercise on Monday to enhance their shared readiness amid heightened tensions from North Korea’s missile tests, reported Korean media.
The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise based on war like situation, started its 11-day run with contingency drills, computer simulation-based command post exercise and field training.
The exercise began at a time when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently inspected cruise missile tests from a warship to protest the exercise.
S. Korea, U.S. Kick off Joint Military Drills
According to Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official about 30 field training events are scheduled to take place during the drill.
This year’s UFS has added war like situation in the drill to train troops to swiftly move into wartime, as well as to counter false information possibly spread by Pyongyang during wartime.
A nine-member countries of the U.N. Command (UNC) will also join the exercise along with South Korea and U.S.
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The countries are Australia, Canada, France, Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand.
The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will also attend the drills as an observer. It has representatives from Sweden and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, the South Korean military is boosting its capabilities against possible military activities by Pyongyang during the exercise period.
The North Korea has long accused the allies’ military drills of being rehearsals for an invasion against it. Kim has recently called for a boost in the country’s missile production capability.
