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 announcement on Monday. This year's drills will focus on emerging threats such as drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command announced the exercise schedule during a briefing in Seoul.

UFS 26, described as an annual defensive exercise, will see around 18,000 Korean troops participate, similar to last year's involvement. However, the number of combined field training exercises at battalion level or higher will decrease to 14 from 17 in 2025. Throughout the year, the allies have been conducting regular combined field training exercises in a balanced manner to maintain and enhance their combined defense posture.

These exercises were closely coordinated from the planning stages and will focus on core training linked to the UFS scenario. This year's exercise will also incorporate lessons learned from recent conflicts, including the evolving nature of warfare involving drones and GPS disruption.