South Korea reaffirms military alliance with US during joint drills
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South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back reaffirmed commitment to the South Korea-US military alliance during a visit to CP Tango, overseeing the Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025 drills amid North Korean criticism.
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Two US Air Force B-1B bombers fly over the Korean Peninsula with South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jets, F-16 fighter jets, and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets in South Korea during the joint aerial drills, April 15, 2025 (AP)
South Korea’s newly appointed Defense Minister, Ahn Gyu-back, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening its military alliance with the United States during a visit to the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC), South Korean agency Yonhap reported on Wednesday.
The visit came as Ahn inspected the Command Post Theater Air Naval Ground Operations Center (CP Tango), a key bunker located in Seongnam, south of Seoul, where he met with CFC Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, coinciding with the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025 military exercise.
The CP Tango facility serves as a critical hub for coordination between South Korean and US forces during joint operations. Ahn’s inspection of the site underlined the strategic significance of the command post and its role in deterring regional threats.
Joint exercises highlight strength of South Korea-US military alliance
“Ulchi Freedom Shield is our premier exercise, a critical demonstration of the enduring strength of the US-ROK Alliance, and our commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” said Gen. Brunson, as quoted by Yonhap.
Defense Minister Ahn echoed this sentiment, stating that the drills are a key opportunity to reinforce the South Korea-US military alliance and called for deeper cooperation between both sides.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 drills are scheduled to run from August 18 to August 28, focusing on joint preparedness and integrated operations in the face of evolving regional security challenges.
DPRK condemns drills, cites threat to stability
The Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, has declared that the country must rapidly expand its nuclear armament, calling ongoing joint US-South Korea military exercises an "obvious expression of their will to provoke war," according to state media KCNA on Tuesday.
Kim’s statement was issued during a visit to a navy destroyer on Monday. He criticized the drills as a "clear expression of ... their intention to remain most hostile and confrontational" toward the DPRK. He further stated that the current security environment requires Pyongyang to "rapidly expand" its nuclear capabilities, particularly in light of what he described as a "nuclear element" involved in the exercises.
Kim Jong Un emphasized that the inclusion of a "nuclear element" in the joint drills reflects a direct threat to the DPRK’s security, arguing this justifies the need for accelerated nuclear development to counter what he sees as hostile policies by the US and its allies.
Meanwhile, the DPRK’s nuclear posture is expected to be a central topic during an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington.
Read more: DPRK Defense Chief condemns upcoming US-South Korea military drill
