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South Korean and U.S. military forces will commence their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield 2026 exercises next week to enhance their readiness against the perceived threats from North Korea, authorities announced on Monday. This comes days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing activities that are prohibited under U.N. regulations.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield is set to run for 11 days, with around 18,000 South Korean soldiers participating, according to South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young. Speaking at the press briefing, U.S. military spokesperson Ryan Donald emphasized that the exercise will include realistic threats, incorporating lessons learned from recent conflicts to strengthen the alliance's capabilities.

Donald referenced North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and noted that these soldiers have learned valuable lessons which they have since applied in North Korea, thereby increasing the DPRK's capabilities. The Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of two major combined exercises conducted annually by South Korea and U.S. militaries, the other being their springtime training.

The U.S. military described the Ulchi Freedom Shield as featuring live, virtual, constructive, and field-based training. North Korea has remained silent on the matter but has consistently described such major U.S.-South Korean military drills as invasion practices and has responded to them with provocative weapons tests and aggressive rhetoric. South Korean and U.S. officials have maintained that their joint exercises are defensive in nature.