Seoul: South Korea and the United States began their annual combined exercise on Monday, aiming to bolster joint defense readiness against North Korea's threats. Approximately half of the field training exercises have been rescheduled to the following month.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, which lasts for 11 days through August 28, includes drills with "realistic" threats designed to enhance the allies' capabilities across multiple domains. This year, around 18,000 South Korean troops are being mobilized for the drills.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) indicated that the scale of this year's exercise is similar to last year's. However, about half of the 40 planned field training exercises will be postponed to September as part of South Korea's apparent efforts to improve relations with North Korea.

North Korea has consistently criticized the allies' joint exercises, viewing them as rehearsals for an invasion, and has often conducted weapons tests in response. In a statement on August 10, Pyongyang's defense chief condemned the large-scale exercise and warned of his country's intention to exercise its "self-defense" right if provoked.

South Korea and the U.S. have reiterated that the summertime drills are "defensive in nature." The UFS exercise will coincide with a four-day civil defense exercise involving about 580,000 civilians, focusing on defending against drone and cyberattacks.

An anti-air raid civil defense drill is scheduled to take place nationwide on Wednesday as part of the civil defense exercises.