UFS Focus Shifts: Fewer North Korea Field Exercises, Greater China Pressure

[Anchor]

While U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in scale, the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), kicked off today (August 17). This year's exercise features a reduction in field maneuvers targeting North Korea, while deterrence drills directed at China have been strengthened.

Here is defense specialist reporter Kim Taehun.

[Reporter]

On August 14, the Eighth U.S. Army publicly declared, "Through this Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, we will demonstrate the alliance's capability to rapidly project combat power within the First Island Chain."

This means that troops and equipment will be deployed during this UFS exercise to the "First Island Chain," America's hypothetical defense line linking Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines to counter China.

To achieve this, the Eighth U.S. Army added that it will also exercise the U.S. Army's "APS-4" prepositioned stocks program.

APS-4 is a program that pre-positions massive amounts of combat equipment and military supplies—such as tanks, armored vehicles, and ammunition—in South Korea and Japan in preparation for contingencies.

Should a military conflict break out between China and Taiwan, the scheme involves dispatching only personnel from the U.S. mainland, while combat equipment and logistical supplies are supplied from APS-4 stocks in South Korea and Japan.

[Lt. Col. Edward Woo / U.S. Army 403rd Army Field Support Brigade: APS-4 pre-positions combat equipment in four areas (across South Korea and Japan) to reduce the burden of strategic airlift.]

It is unprecedented for U.S. Forces Korea to openly refine specific tactics for countering China during the UFS.

On the other hand, combined field maneuvers targeting North Korea decreased from 22 cases last year to 14 cases this year.

Although U.S. President Trump posted on social media that he ordered a reduction in South Korea-U.S. joint exercises with North Korea in mind, and that the U.S. bears the heavy costs of the exercises, combined field drills had already been scaled back, effectively strengthening China-focused exercises that align more closely with U.S. security interests.

Regarding President Trump's social media post, the presidential office stated today, "We expect that friendly relations between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. will lead to North Korea-U.S. dialogue, thereby initiating discussions for peace on the Korean Peninsula."

It further emphasized, "South Korea and the U.S. have closely coordinated on maintaining a firm combined defense posture and joint exercises, and will continue to cooperate closely going forward."

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing: Choi Jin-hwa)

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