South Korea and the United States began their major joint military exercises "Ulchi Freedom Shield" today, Monday, which will last for 11 days to enhance their mutual defense readiness in the face of North Korean military threats.

The Korean News Agency Yonhap reported that the annual drills, which will continue until August 29, come amid growing concerns over Pyongyang's continued development of its weapons, as evidenced by the launch of 37 ballistic missiles this year alone, and increased tensions across the border due to the recent propaganda balloon campaign from the North.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that based on a scenario of total war, the main exercises will include computer simulations, simultaneous field training, and civil defense drills.

The exercises will be similar in scale to last year, involving about 19,000 South Korean soldiers and will include 48 field training events, such as amphibious landings and live-fire exercises.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the drills will enhance the capabilities of the alliance between South Korea and the United States and its readiness to respond to any provocations, and to defend against North Korean weapons of mass destruction; through conducting multi-domain training using a variety of assets, including land, sea, air, electronic, and space assets.

A source indicated that the government will conduct "Ulchi" civil defense drills nationwide for 4 days from August 19 to 22, coinciding with "Ulchi Freedom Shield." The "Ulchi" drills will include a scenario simulating a North Korean nuclear attack for the first time, while the joint military exercises between the allies will not involve such a scenario.

North Korea has long condemned the joint drills between the allies, describing them as a rehearsal for invasion and has a history of conducting weapons tests in response.

During his visit to a frontline unit in the west last week, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Kim Myung-soo ordered his troops to respond immediately in the event of any provocations, stating that the North is likely to use the allies' drills as a pretext for provocations.

In a statement reported by the Korean Central News Agency in North Korea, the American Studies Institute affiliated with the North Korean Foreign Ministry condemned the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercises on Sunday, calling them the most aggressive and provocative war drills for aggression.

It stated: "We will continue to make decisive efforts to build strong defensive capabilities to reliably defend our country's sovereignty, security, and interests, and the integrity of its territory, and to change the security environment in the Korean Peninsula and the region in our favor."

South Korea and the United States deny this accusation, asserting that their drills are defensive in nature.