The U.S. and South Korean militaries ended the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield command-and-staff exercises early on August 21 — six days ahead of schedule, a day after North Korea launched around 10 ballistic missiles. South Korean military officials reported this, UNN writes, citing the Associated Press.
Details
The exercises were initially scheduled to last 11 days and consist of two stages. The first involved practicing defensive operations, while the second, which was supposed to continue until August 27, involved counteroffensive operations. North Korea reacts particularly sharply to the second stage.
The U.S. and South Korea also agreed to halve the number of joint field exercises planned as part of Ulchi Freedom Shield.
North Korea rejected the reduction in the exercises
U.S. President Donald Trump made the decision to reduce the scale of the exercises before they began. He explained it by citing his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
However, the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said that reducing the duration and scale of the exercises did not change their nature.
The following day, North Korea launched around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea. Pyongyang views the joint U.S.-South Korean exercises as preparations for a possible invasion.
Despite this, Kim Yo Jong left open the possibility of future negotiations with Washington, speaking positively about the relationship between her brother and Trump. At the same time, North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and missile programs and is deepening military cooperation with Russia.