Seoul: The government is set to hold nationwide civil defense drills this week, officials said Sunday, as it seeks to cope with new security threats, including attacks from drones. The four-day drills, beginning Monday, will be a major part of the Ulchi defense exercises conducted alongside the joint military drills between South Korea and the United States.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills between South Korea and the U.S. are scheduled to take place from Monday to August 28. Approximately 580,000 civilians from around 4,000 public institutions are expected to participate in the four-day drills, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

This year's exercises will focus on countering potential threats such as drone attacks and cyberattacks, as highlighted by ministry officials. Additionally, an anti-air raid civil defense drill will be conducted nationwide on Wednesday, the ministry confirmed.