Seoul considers postponing key drills with US in bid to temper N. Korea’s response

The United States and South Korea are set to launch their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) joint military exercise on Aug. 18, but with a notably subdued tone that analysts see as a calculated effort to avoid provoking North Korea. Some field training exercises involving live weapons may also be postponed, officials say. Officials are reportedly considering postponing some live-fire drills, citing an ongoing heat wave. However, North Korea’s longstanding opposition to the exercises is also believed to be influencing the discussion. The debate recalls a past proposal by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who argued that modifying the drills could serve as a conciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang. According to government sources, internal discussions on such adjustments are currently underway. In a joint statement issued Thursday by the Combined Forces Command, the two militaries emphasized the defensive nature of the 10-day exercise, describing it as preparation for “realistic threats analyzed from recent wartime patterns.” Notably, the announcement made no mention of North KoWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times