ULCHI freedom shield exercise kick off

South Korea and the United States kicked off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercises on Monday and run for 11 days through Aug 31. Some 580,000 people are to participate in the government's drills. The first civil defense drill in six years involving all Koreans will take place on August 23rd.

When air-raid sirens go off on Wednesday, residents and vehicles must evacuate as if a real attack is occurring. The latest exercises will include large-scale combined field exercises, expanded from the downsized ones conducted since 2019. More than twice the number carried out last year are scheduled. The U.S. Space Forces are joining the exercises for the first time.