South Korea, US to begin exercises to bolster readiness against North's threats

South Korean and U.S. militaries say they will begin their annual large exercises next week to beef up readiness against North Korean threatsByHYUNG-JIN KIM Associated PressSEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their annual exercises next week to beef up readiness against North Korean threats, the allies announced Monday, days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing activities that are banned by the U.N.The Ulchi Freedom Shield is to begin next Monday for a 11-day run and its scale will be similar to previous years with about 18,000 South Korean soldiers participating in it, South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young told reporters. Speaking at the same news conference, U.S. military spokesperson Ryan Donald said by incorporating realistic threats including “lessons from recent conflicts,” the exercise will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the alliance’s readiness and capabilities through combined, joint, all-domain operations.He cited North Korea's dispatch of troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine in recent years. “DPRK soldiers have been deployed and fought in Ukraine and they’ve taken those lessons they learned ther...