Article Posted on : - Aug 16, 2011

A US Army file photo.

SEOUL (BNS): The armed forces of South Korea and United States began an annual military exercise code named ‘Ulchi Freedom Guardian’ (UFG) on Tuesday.

The 10-day long computer-assisted simulation command post exercise will involve some 56,000 South Korean troops and about 30,000 US soldiers, South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency reported.

The “routine and defence-oriented” exercise is designed to improve the alliance’s ability to defend South Korea by training service members while exercising senior leaders’ decision-making capabilities, officials of the United States Combined Forces Command said.

“Ulchi Freedom Guardian is designed to enhance the interoperability of the United States and Republic of Korea military forces while enhancing the combat readiness of the alliance,” said Army Gen. James D. Thurman, Combined Forces Command commander.

“UFG 11 will present the alliance with tough and realistic training events focused on preparing, preventing and prevailing against the full range of current and future threats to the Republic of Korea and the region,” he said.

The two militaries will also simulate destroying weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from North Korea.

“Through this drill, we will try to strengthen our readiness posture against threats by North Korea,” an official of Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) was quoted as saying by Yonhap.