The magnitude of the US administration's influence over mainstream media is no hoax, notably as there are barely any reports about the thousands of South Korean unionists and supporters who rallied in Seoul's downtown on August 13 to protest against the joint US-South Korea war games planned for later this month. 

There's a Western media blackout of protests in South Korea against US military exercises.

PressTV and CGTN have covered them. But we're supposed to believe "state-affiliated" media is propaganda, not the corporate news outlets running interference for empire.

— Danny Haiphong (@SpiritofHo) August 18, 2022

The drills, which are the largest in years, come after the election of incumbent President Yoon Suk-yeol, who promised tougher stances against North Korea. Union leaders, however, have been concerned regarding the risks that come with such policy.

South Koreans held banners demanding that the US leave their land.

Thousands of South Korean progressives and unionists have gathered in downtown Seoul to protest against the joint #US-#SouthKorea military exercises scheduled to begin on August 22.

pic.twitter.com/cGjsbG0Hgo

— AMERICAN WATCHER ☭ (@joshuamills044) August 16, 2022

Many South Koreans argue that the US military and Seoul's alliance with Washington prevent the improvement of ties with North Korea, generating further tension. 

According to the Pentagon, the war games are meant as a response to "challenges" posed by North Korea. 

Read more: South Korea, US agree to cooperate on North Korea

This comes after drills that began on August 1 were concluded on August 14, revealing that the three military allies “participated in a missile warning and ballistic missile search and tracking exercise” near the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, part of what they called the ‘Pacific Dragon’ exercises.

The Defense Department revealed few details about the exercises, except that the drills “demonstrated the commitment of the US, [South Korea] and Japan to furthering trilateral cooperation,” upholding the “rules-based international order,” as well as responding to “DPRK challenges." 

Seoul, moreover, recently confirmed that it would resume live-fire drills with Washington later this month. South Korean forces have recently raised concerns in Beijing, which has repeatedly criticized Seoul's decision to host the US-made Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD), arguing it undermines its national security.

South Korea has rejected calls to refrain from additional THAAD deployments.

Read next: US THAAD missiles not an obstacle for China-S.Korea ties: Beijing

Last month, the DPRK Foreign Ministry said that the joint US-South Korea military exercises in the future could bring the Korean Peninsula back to a state of war.

The situation in the region escalated following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contacts with the island. Washington's exercises with Japan and South Korea against North Korea comes in conjunction with the recent tensions.