S. Korea-US combined exercise to conclude ahead of schedule after Trump order
South Korea and the United States were set to wrap up their key military exercise Friday, nearly a week ahead of its original schedule after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in a move widely seen as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise has been cut short from 11 days to five, following Trump's directive…
South Korea and the United States are set to complete their major military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, nearly a week earlier than initially planned, due to a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump. The exercise, originally scheduled for 11 days, will now conclude in just five days. Trump's order to reduce the drills is seen as an attempt to convey a more conciliatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Trump also cited cost concerns and his relationship with Kim as factors in the decision. The Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of two major combined exercises held annually by the two allies to prepare for contingencies against North Korea. While the exercise primarily focuses on computer-simulated command post training, it also includes major field maneuvers at battalion-level or higher, simulating various wartime scenarios on the Korean Peninsula.
The original plan called for 14 such field maneuvers, but these have been significantly scaled back.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
