(7 Aug 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seoul, South Korea – 07 August 2025
1. Wide of South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Col. Lee Sung Joon and U.S. Forces Korea Public Affairs Director Col. Ryan Donald entering
2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Col. Lee Sung Joon, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson:
"The Republic of Korea and the United States will conduct Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 from Aug. 18 to 28 to strengthen the Alliance’s combined posture."
3. Mid of South Korean Defence Ministry officials
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Col. Ryan Donald, U.S. Forces Korea Public Affairs Director:
"UFS25 is an annual exercise that is defensive in nature. By incorporating realistic threats, including lessons learned from recent conflicts, it will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the Alliance’s readiness and capabilities through combined, joint, all-domain operations."
5. Wide of briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Col. Ryan Donald, U.S. Forces Korea Public Affairs Director:
"What is important to remember is the quality of the training that will occur. If it’s during the FTX (field training exercise) or during next 11 days, or later. It’s the quality that is important because what this does is build our readiness and strengthens our posture to defend Republic of Korea against any threats or any adversaries."
7. Wide of briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Col. Lee Sung Joon, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson:
"After comprehensively reviewing various factors, including ensuring safe training conditions amid extreme heat and maintaining a balanced combined defence posture throughout the year, South Korea and the United States have closely consulted and agreed to adjust and conduct some training exercises next month."
9. Wide of Lee and Donald
STORYLINE:
South Korea and the United States will launch their annual large-scale military exercise this month to bolster readiness against North Korean threats, the allies said Thursday, in a move likely to irritate Pyongyang amid a prolonged stalemate in diplomacy.
Ulchi Freedom Shield, the second of two large-scale exercises held annually in South Korea, following another set of drills in March, typically involves thousands of troops in computer-simulated command post training and combined field exercises.
The Aug. 18-28 exercise may trigger an angry reaction from North Korea, which calls the joint drills invasion rehearsals and often uses them as a pretext to dial up military demonstrations and weapons tests aimed at advancing its nuclear program.
Doubling down on its nuclear ambitions, North Korea has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul’s calls to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its weapons program, which derailed in 2019. The North has now made Russia the priority of its foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
About 18,000 South Korean troops will take part in this year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Col. Lee Sung Joon, said during a joint briefing with U.S. Forces Korea, which did not disclose the number of participating U.S. troops.
AP video by Yong Jun Chang
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