South Korea-U.S. launch Ulchi drills as Kim slams exercise as “hostile”

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

South Korea and the United States have launched their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield, running for eleven days across the country.

It's one of the largest readiness drills in years, combining military maneuvers with government-wide emergency simulations.

What's different this time is the focus on modern threats — drones, satellite disruption, and large-scale cyber warfare, scenarios that mirror the security challenges Seoul faces today.

North Korea has already condemned the exercise in unusually harsh terms, while South Korea is signaling a softer policy line toward Pyongyang.

And with North Korea's growing alignment with Moscow, plus renewed great-power diplomacy following President Trump's latest call with President Putin, the Korean Peninsula is once again caught in the middle of shifting global currents.

For a deeper discussion on this, we are joined in the studio by Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. A big welcome.

Also joining us via Zoom is Brian Myers, Professor of International Studies at Dongseo University. Good to see you.

(MYERS) 1. First of all, how should we interpret the scale and design of this year's Ulchi Freedom Shield, which kicked off yesterday, Monday, Aug. 18, with over 580,000 participants, including a civil defense simulation?

(GO) 2. And this year is the drills are simulating drone incursions, GPS jamming, and cyber attacks. This comes as South Korea faced more than 9,000 suspected North Korean hacking attempts against its military networks in just the first half of this year.

How does this affect the urgency and realism of the exercises?

(MYERS) 3. The schedule of the drills itself has also drawn attention.

Half of the planned field training exercises were pushed back.

While officials cited heat and safety, do you think this was also a diplomatic signal aimed at lowering tensions?

(GO) 4. As the drills began, President Lee chaired the Ulchi NSC and stressed that the exercises are purely defensive, designed to protect civilians.

But how likely is it that Pyongyang actually sees it that way, or are they still locked in their "war rehearsal" narrative?

(MYERS) 5. And just today, we got a sharp reaction.

Kim Jong-un condemned the UFS drills as "the most hostile expression of intent" toward North Korea.

Despite Seoul's conciliatory gestures, he came out with very strong language. How should we interpret this?

(GO) 6. Do you agree? Dr. Go, do you think this is mainly rhetorical, aimed at shoring up domestic unity? Or should we take it as a signal that Pyongyang could actually accelerate nuclear development?

(GO) 7. At the same time, Kim also chose this moment to showcase the new 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon-ho. Was the timing meant to coincide with the drills — and does the ship signal real capability, or mostly propaganda?

(MYERS) 8. On the other hand, Seoul has shifted its own policy stance.

Just last week, the Unification Ministry formally scrapped the Yoon-era "8.15 Doctrine," which Pyongyang had denounced as an absorption policy.

President Lee instead emphasized "peaceful coexistence" in his Liberation Day speech. Do you think this change could make a difference in how North Korea views Seoul?

(GO) 9. And then there's Pyongyang's growing ties with Moscow.

North Korea and Russia just issued a joint stamp marking the 80th Liberation Day, featuring Pyongyang's Liberation Tower. How can we interpret this?

(MYERS) 10. And as we wrap up, let's take a step back. Just yesterday, Presidents Trump and Putin spoke by phone about raising the level of direct Russia–Ukraine negotiations.

Even without a breakthrough, some say this gives Moscow more room to maneuver — and by extension, Pyongyang more leverage.

How do you see this? and what should Seoul be most mindful of going forward?