The annual “Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG)” joint U.S.-ROK computer-assisted military exercises start next Monday, running from August 19th to 30th. ROK/US Combined Forces Command officially revealed the news on Saturday. More than 30,000 stationed U.S. and 50,000 South Korean military personnel will participate in the UFG events.
News of the schedule and other details were also conveyed to North Korea on Saturday via the UNC Military Armistice Commission. The information was broadcast across the Military Demarcation Line inside the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom by handheld microphone, it was revealed. North Korea does not accept direct communication with UN Command.
North Korea is always viscerally critical of UFG, and this year is expected to see similar expressions of anger. Indeed, it has already begun. On July 21st, the daily publication of the Chosun Workers’ Party, Rodong Sinmun released a piece entitled, “The disbanding of UN Command and withdrawal of the occupying U.S. Army is the pressing demand of the era.” In the piece, North Korea warned that the impending UFG could throw the Korean Peninsula into conflict once again.
