S. Korea, U.S. to begin key summertime military exercise next week

South Korea and the United States will commence a major joint military exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), next week, their militaries announced on Monday. The annual event, spanning from August 17-27, aims to enhance their joint defense readiness and capabilities, with a focus on realistic threats and combined, all-domain operations.

This is the second of two large-scale annual combined exercises, the other being the Freedom Shield (FS) in spring. The UFS will serve as a test for South Korea to lead the combined forces once the nation assumes wartime command. The allies are in the second phase of a three-stage plan for this transition. This year's UFS will not include the South Korean deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command taking over the role of the CFC commander, a change that has sparked speculation about U.S. reservations about the OPCON transfer.

South Korea aims to finalize the OPCON transition before President Lee Jae Myung's term ends in 2030, while the U.S. stresses the need for strict verification before rushing the process. The UFS will also incorporate lessons learned from recent conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. The United Nations Command, which oversees the Armistice Agreement ending the 1950-53 Korean War, will send around 70 additional personnel from 12 UNC member states to participate, including a new focus on cyber and information domains.