U.S. and South Korea start joint military exercises next week

Seoul also will conduct first-ever civil defense drill for nuclear attack

U.S. Korea Forces spokesperson Col. Ryan Donald, right, and Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, attend a press briefing on the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises in Seoul. © AP

JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei staff writer

August 13, 2024 00:14 JST

SEOUL -- The U.S. and South Korean militaries announced on Monday that they will hold their annual large-scale joint exercises from Aug. 19 to Aug. 29, aimed at strengthening the South's defenses against North Korean attacks.

In conjunction with the series of 48 military drills, the South Korean government will hold its first civil defense drill for the potential use of North Korean nuclear weapons.