South Korea and the United States will conduct the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises, regular joint drills for the defense of the Korean Peninsula in the event of an emergency, from August 17 to 27.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the ROK-US Combined Forces Command announced the schedule for this year's UFS exercises today (the 10th), stating, "It is an annual, defensive-natured exercise conducted by South Korea and the U.S."

They also noted, "It will serve as an opportunity to continuously promote preparations for the transition of wartime operational control based on the conditions agreed upon by South Korea and the U.S."