South Korea, US will start summer military drills next week

Col. Ryan Donald, right, of the U.S., and Col. Lee Sung-jun of South Korea attend a press briefing of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 12, 2024

South Korea and the United States will begin their annual joint military exercises next week with a focus on improving their combined capabilities to deter and defend against growing North Korean nuclear threats, the allies said Monday.