Possibility of Adjusting South Korea-U.S. Combined Exercises... Some Field Training May Be Postponed Until After September

It was reported on August 1 that some of the field training exercises (FTX) scheduled during the upcoming South Korea-U.S. combined exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)"?which begins in the middle of this month?are likely to be postponed until after September. While the official reason cited is the "heat wave," it appears that North Korea's strong opposition to the South Korea-U.S. combined exercises has also been taken into consideration.

According to military authorities on this day, South Korea and the United States plan to conduct the command post exercise (CPX), which is based on simulations, as scheduled during the UFS period. However, they are reportedly discussing postponing some of the FTXs due to reasons such as the heat wave. Regimental-level FTXs during the UFS period were suspended after 2018 under the Moon Jae-in administration but were revived in 2022 with the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Typically, 30 to 40 FTXs are conducted, and it is said that about 10 of these are subject to postponement.

Unification Minister Chung Dongyoung recently stated publicly that, as part of a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea, he would propose to President Lee Jaemyung an adjustment of the South Korea-U.S. combined exercises. However, some have raised criticism that, since this is an issue directly related to national security, it amounts to "appeasing North Korea."

Regarding this, the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command stated, "All decisions will be made through the established consultation process, and both countries are closely coordinating."