On Tuesday, August 4, members of a group of civil activists in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, held a protest gathering in front of the U.S. Embassy in this city.

The demonstrators, who are members of the group “Korea Solidarity for Peace, Sovereignty and Reunification,” called for the suspension of the large annual joint exercise “Ulchi Freedom Shield.” This exercise is held each year by South Korea and the United States with the aim of strengthening readiness and joint coordination of the two countries’ military forces.

This year’s exercise is scheduled to begin in about two weeks’ time for 10 days. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Command, U.S. forces in South Korea, the United Nations command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea’s armed forces and the country’s government institutions will participate in the conduct of this maneuver.

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