South Korea-U.S. joint drills halved, counter-attack phase canceled

The annual South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS), is set to be significantly shortened, with its second phase canceled. The exercise, originally scheduled to run for two weeks, will now conclude after just one week, according to multiple government sources.

The decision to reduce the drills stems from a directive issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly instructed Defense Secretary Mark Esper on June 16 to substantially scale back the joint training. This adjustment to an exercise already in progress is considered unusual.

Sources indicate that the allies agreed to conclude UFS after one week, cutting short the planned two-week duration. The exercise consists of computer simulations for command post training (CPX) and field maneuvers. While the first phase, focusing on defensive operations against North Korean provocations, will proceed until June 21 as planned, the second phase, which involved simulated counter-offensive operations against North Korea and was scheduled to run until June 27, has been canceled.

North Korea has consistently protested the UFS exercises, particularly those involving offensive capabilities, viewing them as rehearsals for invasion. The U.S. decision to curtail the drills appears to be a concession aimed at de-escalating tensions and facilitating dialogue with Pyongyang.