The Allies are working on countering nuclear threats, taking into account the experience of modern conflicts
The situation on the Korean peninsula remains tense, despite the softening of the position of the new leadership of South Korea. Against the background of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the United States and its Asian allies are once again focusing on military compatibility. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which began on August 18, show that Seoul remains one of Washington's key partners in the strategic confrontation with China. The DPRK, for its part, condemned the maneuvers and is ready to give a decisive response. More than 18,000 South Korean soldiers are involved in the exercises.
The nuclear threat
The joint US-South Korean Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises take into account real threats and combat experience gained from analyzing modern military conflicts. Their main goal is to increase the joint defense capability and compatibility of the armed forces of the two countries. In particular, their military is practicing actions in case of nuclear and missile threats. This was reported by the South Korean armed forces.
According to military expert Dmitry Kornev, North Korea today possesses nuclear weapons and their means of delivery that can hit the entire territory of South Korea.
— In case of a possible conflict, they can use these weapons. Therefore, one of the methods of counteraction is the use of American Patriot anti—aircraft missile systems, which South Korea has, the expert believes. — The South Korean military needs to practice the detection of ballistic missiles and their subsequent interception. You can not leave such a scenario without attention and training.
Photo: EPA
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According to Dmitry Kornev, another method of counteraction is the detection of the missile launchers themselves and their destruction by aviation forces. During the exercises, it is also important for them to work out the organization of interaction between all defense components: the navy, the Air Force, the ground forces and the air defense.
Large-scale joint exercises between the United States and South Korea provoked a sharp reaction from Pyongyang. Despite the fact that Washington and Seoul insist on the defensive nature of the maneuvers, North Korea condemned their conduct and warned of possible consequences.
According to North Korean Defense Minister Noh Gwang Chol, exercises simulating a real situation of nuclear war are considered in Pyongyang as a direct military threat. According to the minister, the unilateral actions of the United States and South Korea lead to the fact that the situation in the region "is changing for the worse every day."
North Korean Defense Minister Army General Noh Gwang Chol
Image source: Photo: TASS/Vadim Savitsky
North Korea is a small country that has been thoroughly studied from space. South Korea collects a lot of information about it, and most likely, it knows in detail the location of Pyongyang's nuclear facilities. According to military expert Vadim Kozyulin, plans for a preemptive strike against them have already been worked out.
"The military on both sides are preparing for all scenarios, that is, for the most improbable scenarios," he told Izvestia. — During such large-scale exercises as the current ones, with the participation of 18,000 South Korean military personnel, a nuclear strike can also be practiced. This is indeed a cause for concern for North Korea.
View of Pyongyang
Image source: Photo: TASS/Yuri Smityuk
According to Kozyulin, sometimes such large-scale maneuvers turn into real combat operations. That is why it is possible that the North Korean military is now on high alert.
"South Korea is under the gun of North Korean artillery, and Seoul is located close to the border, within range of the projectile," the expert added. — Of course, Seoul will behave cautiously, but much depends on the country's leadership and its plans.
Representatives of the joint command of the United States and South Korea said that half of the upcoming field maneuvers within the framework of Ulchi Freedom Shield will be postponed to September. The reasons were the abnormal heat and the unsuitable condition of some landfills.
U.S. policy on Korean issues
The situation on the Korean peninsula has been and remains tense, despite Seoul's statements about the absence of hostile intentions towards Pyongyang. ROK President Lee Jae-myung earlier stressed that South Korea respects the current political system of its northern neighbor and will not seek unification "through absorption."
Lee Jae-myung, unlike his predecessor Yoon Seok-young, who left his post this spring, speaks from a softer position towards the DPRK. Nevertheless, Pyongyang does not trust the South Korean authorities. Kim Yo Jong, deputy head of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong Un's sister, confirmed last week that the DPRK would enshrine in its Constitution a provision on the absence of intentions to improve relations with Seoul.
Photo: Global Look Press/IMAGO/Matrix Images/Lee Sang-hoo
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Back in 2024, South Korea announced the complete suspension of the implementation of the agreement with the DPRK on reducing military tensions, which was concluded in September 2018. The armed conflict on the Korean peninsula will immediately affect the United States, given the significant American military presence on its territory. There are about 28,000 American troops stationed in the country.
Although Donald Trump made an unprecedented rapprochement with North Korea during his first term, the US priorities now seem to be more focused on resolving the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine. The settlement of the Ukrainian crisis has overshadowed the Korean issue, notes the American scholar Pavel Sharikov.
— The Ukrainian issue is currently in the active phase of Trump's decision. Although the Korean problem is also very important for the United States. South Korea is one of the most important allies of the United States in opposing China," he told Izvestia. — Trump manages to combine trade restrictions with areas of cooperation, in particular, to conduct military exercises.
Photo: AP/Alex Brandon
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The situation on the Korean peninsula is likely to be the main topic during Lee Jae-myung's visit to the United States on August 24-26. Seoul expects to discuss proposals for developing South Korean-U.S. military relations to a comprehensive strategic alliance, the South Korean leader's administration said earlier. At the same time, trade contradictions remain on the agenda of Seoul and Washington. For example, the United States imposed 15 percent customs duties on South Korea, although there is a free trade agreement between the countries.
Armenia and the United States strengthen cooperation
The United States is conducting military exercises not only with South Korea. Their joint training sessions with Eagle Partner 2025 Armenia started on August 12. Their goal, according to the Armenian Ministry of Defense, is "to increase the level of interaction between units participating in international peacekeeping missions, exchange management and tactical communication experience, as well as increase the readiness of peacekeepers."
Photo: TASS/Zuma
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Eagle Partner exercises have already become regular and are being held for the third time. The focus of the current maneuvers is on practicing medical evacuation.
Past exercises have provoked a negative reaction from the Kremlin. Moscow's representatives said at the time that "such training does not contribute to stabilizing the situation and strengthening the atmosphere of mutual trust in the region."
Julia Leonova
Semyon Boikov
