Seoul. South Korea and the United States on Monday began an annual major military exercise to counter the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

This is likely to further increase regional tensions. North Korea has described it as an attack exercise and warned that it will respond to “any provocation”.

About 21,000 Us and 18,000 South Korean troops are participating in the 11-day exercise called ‘Ulchi Freedom Shield’. This includes computer-simulated command post operations and field training.

Allies have called it defensive, but North Korea has often used such exercises as an excuse for weapons testing and military demonstrations.

Last week, North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol called the drills a sign of a “military confrontation” and said his forces were ready to retaliate against any activity that went out of the border.

The exercise comes at a sensitive time for South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-in-myung. He is preparing for a summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington on August 25. Trump has in the past called for an increase in the spending of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, which has increased pressure on the coalition.

North Korea has ignored Lee’s diplomatic call. Tensions have risen on the Korean peninsula as Leader Kim Jong Un accelerates his weapons program and deepens ties with Russia. “What we need now is to continue to reduce tensions along with strong security preparedness,” Lee said on Monday. ’

South Korea also began a four-day civil defence exercise on Monday. The previous government had further expanded a similar exercise, which angered Kim.

Lee’s government has said it will try to restore an inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018. The agreement created a buffer zone and a no-fly zone in the border areas. However, in 2024, South Korea suspended the deal after North Korea sent balloons filled with garbage to South Korea. North Korea has since announced that it will not accept the deal.

South Korea’s defense ministry said the move to restore the agreement had nothing immediately to do with u.S. military exercises. However, half of the training programmes have been postponed to September due to damage caused by heat and floods in some practice areas.

During his previous term, Trump had pressured South Korea to pay more for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on its soil. His allies have hinted at a coalition restructuring that could affect the size and role of U.S. forces in South Korea.

Experts say that in such a view, South Korea will have to play a bigger role in the threat with North Korea, while us forces will be more focused on China. This could put Seoul at more risk and costs.

Speaking to reporters recently, U.S. military commander General Xavier Brunson said it was important to modernize the alliance for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” given North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, alliances with Russia and China’s challenges.