Key facts
- South Korea and the U.S. will conduct their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise from Aug. 17 to 27.
- The drills will incorporate lessons from recent conflicts, including drone warfare, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks.
- North Korean troops who fought in Ukraine have returned with battlefield experience that affects Pyongyang's military capabilities.
- The exercises will support preparations for the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul.
- Approximately 18,000 South Korean troops will participate in the exercise.
South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise from August 17 to 27, aimed at bolstering defenses against regional threats and working toward the eventual transfer of wartime operational command (OPCON) authority to Seoul. The allies announced the schedule during a joint briefing in Seoul, describing UFS 26 as defensive in nature.
This year's drills will incorporate lessons from recent conflicts, including changes in warfare involving drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks. Approximately 18,000 South Korean troops will participate, with the number of combined field training exercises above the battalion level reduced to 14 from 17 in 2025. A Joint Chiefs of Staff official noted that North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine have returned with battlefield experience that has affected Pyongyang’s military capabilities, and the training accounts for this threat.
The exercise will also support preparations for the conditions-based transition of OPCON. South Korean and U.S. forces will conduct a joint assessment of capabilities and systems. If agreed criteria are met, South Korea expects to seek certification of the Future Combined Forces Command’s full operational capability and propose a timeline for OPCON transition. The U.S. side adopted a more cautious stance, deferring specific evaluations and timeline discussions to established bilateral channels.
About 70 personnel from 11 UNC member states will participate, and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission will observe the exercise to monitor compliance with the Armistice Agreement.