The U.S. Department of Defense has released the first photos from the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2014 joint military exercise that has just begun in South Korea.
The computer-based exercise simulates South Korean defense of a North Korean attack and, not surprisingly, have North Korea angry.
The daily Rodong Sinmun wrote, “It is foolish and ridiculous if the U.S. and south Korean puppet forces calculate that they will get something through provocative Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises against the DPRK,” and said they won’t achieve anything. The editorial came a couple of weeks after the newspaper said North Korea’s own military exercises were a “legitimate right” of the country.
The photos from Ulchi Freedom Guardian, which admittedly aren’t very interesting, document the visit of Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, to the joint operations center for the exercise on Wednesday.
Ten additional countries are participating in the exercise alongside the U.S. and South Korea: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. There will also be representatives from the Neutral Nations Supervisory Committee in attendance to monitor its compliance with the terms of the 1953 Armistice Agreement, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Admiral Choi Yoon Hee (center), Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza (right), I Corps Commanding General, and Gen. Kim Hyun Jip (left), Third ROK Army Commander, walk side-by-side on their way to the 1st Canadian Division joint operation center in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Lieutenant General Stephen Lanza, I Corps Commanding General, greets Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, as he arrives at the joint operation center for a briefing in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Major General Dean Milner (right), Commanding General 1st Canadian Division, is greeted by Brig. Gen. Kurt Ryan (left), Commanding General for the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, outside the joint operations center in preparation for the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, I Corps Commanding General, and Gen. Kim Hyun Jip, Third ROK Army Commander, pause for a group photo with Maj. Gen. Dean Milner, 1st Canadian Division Commanding General, and other staff personnel at the 1st Canadian Division joint operation center in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, is briefed by Maj. Gen. Dean Milner, 1st Canadian Division Commanding General, about the operations at the 1st Canadian Division joint operation center in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Lieutenant General Stephen Lanza, I Corps Commanding General, briefs Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, about the operations with the Third ROK Army and I Corps in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
Admiral Choi Yoon Hee, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Republic of Korea, addresses personnel of the I Corps joint operation center in preparation for Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise at Camp Yongin, South Korea, Aug. 20. (DOD Photo / Daniel Schroeder)
