President Yoon Suk-yeol underscored the significance of the four-day Ulchi civil defense drill, a part of the joint annual military exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Shield, between South Korea and the United States during a cabinet meeting on Monday. Yoon highlighted the drill’s role in bolstering national emergency preparedness against potential conflicts or war with North Korea. The exercise will include drills to respond to North Korea’s nuclear weapons usage against South Korean territory, drone attacks, cyber threats, “psychological warfare” and low-level “gray-zone” aggressions An anti-air raid civil defense drill will be conducted nationwide on Wednesday for the first time in six years, with the 20-minute drill set for 2 p.m.

Yoon also emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan in the face of global challenges. Yoon added that trilateral cooperation between the three countries would function as “a robust collaborative entity,” promoting regional and global peace and prosperity “alongside initiatives like AUKUS and the Quad.”