South Korea, US to Begin Exercises     08/10 06:33

   

   SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their 
annual exercises next week to beef up readiness against North Korean threats, 
the allies announced Monday, days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile 
testing activities that are banned by the U.N.

   The Ulchi Freedom Shield is to begin next Monday for a 11-day run and its 
scale will be similar to previous years with about 18,000 South Korean soldiers 
participating in it, South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young told 
reporters.

   Speaking at the same news conference, U.S. military spokesperson Ryan Donald 
said by incorporating realistic threats including "lessons from recent 
conflicts," the exercise will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the 
alliance's readiness and capabilities through combined, joint, all-domain 
operations.

   He cited North Korea's dispatch of troops to support Russia's war against 
Ukraine in recent years.

   "DPRK soldiers have been deployed and fought in Ukraine and they've taken 
those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea," Donald 
said, using the abbreviation for North Korea's full name. "That changes the 
DPRK capability and our training accounts for that threat."

   The upcoming summertime drill is one of the two main combined exercises 
conducted by South Korea and U.S. militaries annually, along with their 
springtime training. The U.S. military said the Ulchi Freedom Shield features 
"live, virtual, constructive and field-based training."

   North Korea had no immediate comments. But it has steadfastly described any 
major U.S.-South Korean military drills as a practice to invade North Korea and 
responded with provocative weapons tests and fiery rhetoric. South Korean and 
U.S. officials have said their joint exercises are defensive in nature.

   On Thursday, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan detected the launch of a 
short-range ballistic missile from North Korea in what was the North's first 
ballistic weapons testing activity since late June. The missile landed in the 
waters of North Korea's east coast.

   South Korea and Japan condemned the launch as a provocation or a threat 
because multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from 
engaging in any ballistic activities. The U.S. Pacific Command said the U.S. 
remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and its allies in the 
region.

   North Korea has been pushing hard to enlarge its nuclear and missile 
arsenals since leader Kim Jong Un's high-stakes diplomacy with U.S. President 
Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Experts say Kim likely believes a bigger 
weapons arsenal would increase his chances for wresting more concessions from 
the U.S. in future negotiations.

   North Korea's supply of troops and ammunition to Russia has raised concerns 
among South Korea, the U.S. and others that Russia might have transferred North 
Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and 
missile programs. Experts have assessed North Korea's troop dispatch has given 
it crucial battlefield experience as well.