South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, centre, presides over a Cabinet meeting. The US and South Korea began their biggest combined military exercises in years on Monday as they shore up their defences against the growing North Korean nuclear threat. AP
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, centre, presides over a Cabinet meeting. The US and South Korea began their biggest combined military exercises in years on Monday as they shore up their defences against the growing North Korean nuclear threat. AP
South Korean forces take their positions in Paju, near the border with North Korea. AP
South Korean forces take their positions in Paju, near the border with North Korea. AP
People protest against the joint South Korea-US military exercises near the presidential office in Seoul. EPA
People protest against the joint South Korea-US military exercises near the presidential office in Seoul. EPA
A protester holds a banner during a rally to oppose the joint military exercises being held by the US and South Korea. AP
A protester holds a banner during a rally to oppose the joint military exercises being held by the US and South Korea. AP

World

South Korea and US begin biggest joint military drills in years amid threat from North

Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise starts days after Pyongyang conducted cruise missile tests

The National

August 22, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

South Korea and the US began their largest joint military drills in years on Monday, in a show of force against North Korea,

The land, sea and air military exercises are the first of their kind between South Korea and the US since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May.

Mr Yoon vowed to “normalise” the bilateral drills in a bid to strengthen commitment between the countries against the North's nuclear threat.

The exercises, named Ulchi Freedom Shield, are set to last until September 1.

Separately, for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, South Korea launched its Ulchi civil defence drills on Monday, designed to boost government readiness.

Mr Yoon said Ulchi Freedom Shield and Ulchi civil defence drills were integrated.

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“By turning into training based on precisely scenarioising of the actual situations, we have integrated Ulchi [civil defence drills] with the military exercise Freedom Shield,” Mr Yoon said.

Together, these aim to enhance the country's readiness for the evolving patterns of warfare, including cyber crime threats to vital facilities, he said.

“Maintaining peace on the Korean peninsula is built on our airtight security posture,” Mr Yoon told a Cabinet meeting, calling for thorough exercises based on real-world scenarios.

The joint drills had been taking place on a smaller scale before the coronavirus outbreak, as Mr Yoon's predecessor sought to improve relations with Pyongyang.

North Korea fired two cruise missiles from its west coast last week, as part of an intensified testing programme.

South Korean activists have criticised the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills — which North Korea views as intimidation — calling for the exercises to be immediately halted.

One activist said the exercises are a “very reckless war rehearsal”.

What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

Updated: August 22, 2022, 11:12 AM`
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