Seoul: South Korea and the United States will begin their annual joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, on August 18, 2025. The 11-day exercise will involve large-scale computer-simulated drills and 40 field training sessions. However, due to extreme summer heat and planning considerations, about 20 of those field exercises have been postponed to September.

The decision to modify the schedule was made by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. Forces Korea, with the goal of maintaining year-round operational readiness and ensuring the safety of troops. Officials emphasized that the delay was based on environmental and logistical concerns rather than political motives.

This year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield will include simulations to test joint responses to North Korean missile threats and cyberattacks. For the first time, the exercises will also integrate advanced warfare strategies inspired by recent global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East. Despite the increasing concerns over Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, the drills will not include a scenario simulating a North Korean nuclear test.

The joint drills are part of a long-standing defense alliance between South Korea and the U.S., aimed at deterring aggression from North Korea. Over the decades, these exercises have drawn strong opposition from Pyongyang, which views them as rehearsals for invasion. In a recent statement, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized South Korea’s decision to delay some drills, saying it was not a gesture worth appreciating.

South Korea’s current government, under President Lee Jae Myung, has taken a softer stance on North Korea and hopes to reduce tensions on the peninsula. Recent gestures include removing border loudspeakers and scaling back some military activities. The Ministry of Unification expressed hope that the drill rescheduling would be seen as a goodwill move, although experts remain skeptical of its effectiveness.

Despite the rescheduling, the scope of the drills will remain similar to previous years, with thousands of troops participating from both countries. The exercise will focus on improving joint command coordination, enhancing battlefield communications, and integrating lessons learned from modern warfare environments.

Ulchi Freedom Shield, a key part of the U.S.–South Korea military alliance, has been conducted annually since the 1970s. While the format has evolved over the years, it remains central to the countries’ shared defense posture in the face of ongoing threats from the North.

The first phase of the exercise begins on August 18 and concludes on August 28, with remaining drills continuing into September.