Seoul: South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday called for a firm readiness posture against North Korea's possible provocation during a major South Korea-U.S. summertime exercise set to take place later this month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), emphasized the need for vigilance as the allies prepare for their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise from Aug. 18-28. North Korea has criticized the planned drills and threatened to take "self-defense" measures if provoked.

During his visit to the 10th Fighter Wing, Kim urged troops to "maintain a firm operational posture that can immediately respond to any provocation by the enemy using the combined drills as a pretext." This statement was made in reference to the ongoing tensions, as reported by the JCS.

Adm. Kim also visited a warfighting simulation center, where he instructed troops to fulfill their roles to bolster the allies' combined defense posture capabilities. This is deemed essential in the face of rapid changes in the security environment and advancements in modern warfare.

To accommodate this year's exercise, the military has postponed around half of the 40 planned field training exercises to next month. This decision aligns with Seoul's efforts to improve strained relations with Pyongyang.