S. Korea, US to hold UFS exercise from Aug. 17

South Korea and the United States are set to hold their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise from August 17 to 27, according to a joint briefing in Seoul on Monday. This year's drills will focus on emerging threats such as drones, GPS disruptions, and cyberattacks. Both nations announced the schedule during the joint briefing, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command confirming the details.

This year's UFS 26 is described as an annual exercise with a defensive nature. Around 18,000 Korean troops will take part in the exercise, similar to the number from the previous year. However, the number of combined field training exercises at the battalion level or above will decrease from 17 in 2025 to 14. This reduction reflects a shift towards a more balanced approach to conducting combined field training throughout the year.

The allies emphasize that the exercises will be closely coordinated from the planning stage and will concentrate on essential training linked to the UFS scenario. In addition, this year's exercise will incorporate lessons learned from recent conflicts, including the evolving nature of warfare that involves drones and GPS disruptions.