The United States and South Korea on Thursday concluded their large-scale annual exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), aimed at strengthening joint defense readiness amid growing military threats from North Korea, citing Yonhap. According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, around 19,000 South Korean troops participated in the maneuvers, which began on August 19. Additionally, 48 simultaneous field exercises were conducted, such as amphibious landings and live-fire drills, compared to 38 field exercises held last year. For the first time, civil defense forces’ training during the exerci…