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South Korea, US begin joint military exercises

Shakeel Sobhan with AP, Reuters
August 18, 2025

The joint drills come at a time when Trump is eyeing higher payments for the US troops stationed in South Korea. Meanwhile, Seoul ordered the partial, phased implementation of existing pacts made with North Korea.

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Soldiers and tanks pointing weapons during joint South Korea-US drills
Last week, North Korea said the joint South Korea-US drills show the allies' stance of "military confrontation" with the North Image: Defense Ministry/ZUMA Press Wire/picture alliance

South Korea and the United States began the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise on Monday, aimed at strengthening readiness against North Korean threats.

Both countries say the 11-day military program, which includes computer simulations and field training involving 21,000 troops, is defensive in nature.

However, Pyongyang has condemned the exercises as a "military confrontation" last week in a statement and vowed to respond to any "any provocation."

A similar round of drills between the US and South Korea was held earlier in March.

The North has often used such drills as a pretext for missile launches or other military demonstrations.

In 2023, Pyongyang staged a simulated "tactical nuclear attack" drill as a response to US-South Korea military exercises.

Trump wants higher payments for US troops in South Korea

The joint drill comes at a sensitive time for South Korea's new president, Lee Jae-myung, ahead of his August 25 summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Trump has previously demanded higher payments for the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea.

The Trump administration has signaled possible changes to the decades-old alliance as Washington shifts its strategic focus toward China. 

There is added pressure on the South Korean president as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected Seoul's overtures of diplomacy and accelerated his weapons program and deepened military ties with Russia, including sending troops to the Ukrainian front.

North Korea continues to back Russia's war against Ukraine

Lee seeks to improve strained North-South relations

Meanwhile, Lee, in a bid to improve ties with the North, ordered his Cabinet to prepare a partial step-by-step implementation of existing agreements with North Korea on Monday.

"What's needed now is the courage to steadily take steps toward easing tensions, grounded in a firmly maintained state of ironclad security readiness," Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. "Relations between South and North Korea are crucial in order to protect the national interests of South Korea and expand the space to operate diplomatically in the face of rapidly changing external conditions."

Lee did not specify exactly which agreements with the North could be implemented. But last week, he said Seoul wanted to restore a 2018 agreement to suspend some military activity along the border with North Korea.

Monday's military drills also include a four-day civil defense program in South Korea alongside the exercises, mobilizing thousands of government workers.

Edited by Sean Sinico