South Korea and US Launch Joint Military Exercises Amid Rising Tensions
The combined exercises coincide with Trump’s desire to increase compensation for US troops in South Korea. Seoul, meanwhile, mandated the gradual and partial execution of current agreements with North Korea.
The yearly Ulchi Freedom Shield military drill between the US and South Korea got underway Monday with the goal of enhancing preparedness against North Korean threats.
Both nations claim that the 11-day military exercise, which involves 21,000 troops in outdoor training and computer simulations, is defensive in nature.
But this week, Pyongyang issued a statement denouncing the exercises as a “military confrontation” and promising to retaliate against “any provocation.”
Earlier in March, the United States and South Korea conducted a similar round of exercises. Such exercises have frequently served as a pretext for missile launches and other military displays by the North.
Pyongyang responded to US-South Korea military drills in 2023 by staging a mock “tactical nuclear attack” exercise. Trump wants the US troops in South Korea to get paid more.
The joint exercise coincides with a delicate moment for Lee Jae-myung, the new president of South Korea, as he prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on August 25.
Trump has in the past called for increased compensation for the 28,500 US soldiers who are based in South Korea. As Washington turns its strategic attention to China, the Trump administration has hinted at potential changes to the long-standing partnership.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rebuffed Seoul’s diplomatic attempts, pushed his weapons program, and strengthened military connections with Russia, particularly by sending troops to the Ukrainian front, putting further pressure on the South Korean president.
Lee wants to mend the tense North-South ties. In the meantime, Lee gave his Cabinet instructions on Monday to draft a partial, step-by-step implementation of current agreements with North Korea in an effort to strengthen relations with the North.
“What’s needed now is the courage to steadily take steps towards easing tensions, grounded in a firmly maintained state of ironclad security readiness,” Lee stated in a Cabinet meeting.
“Relations between South and North Korea are crucial in order to protect the national interests of South Korea and expand the space to operate diplomatically in the face of rapidly changing external conditions.”
Which agreements with the North could be put into effect were not made clear by Lee. However, he stated last week that Seoul sought to reinstate a 2018 pact to halt some military operations near the North Korean border.
Alongside Monday’s military exercises, thousands of government employees are being mobilised for a four-day civil defence program in South Korea.
Source:DW News
