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A total of 26 Australians have departed for the Republic of Korea as part of Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield, enhancing the readiness of the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command in maintaining stability on the Peninsula.
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The annual exercise includes members of the United Nations Command member states including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Australia has sent 23 Australian Defence Force personnel and three civilian policy advisers to take part in the exercise.
The members are expected to support the planning and simulated execution of crisis scenarios at the United Nations Command Headquarters at US Army Garrison Humphreys.
Australia has participated in the exercise since 2010.
The exercise is an opportunity to hone Australia and the Republic of Korea’s interoperability, with bilateral defence relations dating back to the 1950s, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher said.
“Routine exercises with Australia’s key regional partners strengthen our ability to meet shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific," AVM Kitcher said.
“Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 2023 allows Australia to work with the Republic of Korea, the United States, and other United Nations Command partners to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
“Australia and the Republic of Korea share a longstanding bilateral defence relationship, dating back to the Korean War. Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 2023 provides a great opportunity to increase our interoperability and deepen people-to-people links to enhance our defence cooperation.”
Australia has been a member of the United Nations Command since the Korean War, and actively supports the Republic of Korea and maintenance of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, Defence reiterated in a statement.
It was recently revealed that the Republic of Korea, the US, and Japan have agreed to improve their defence exercise collaboration and share an “information hotline” after trilateral cooperation talks earlier this month.
US President Joseph Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met at the Camp David Trilateral Summit on 18 August.
All three countries have since reportedly agreed to launch annual multidomain military exercises to improve trilateral defence cooperation, speed up information sharing on North Korea’s missile launches, and cyber activities to strengthen ballistic missile defence cooperation.
“The Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan proclaimed that we will bolster the rules-based international order and play key roles to enhance regional security and prosperity based on our shared values of freedom, human rights, and rule of law,” President Yoon said through a translator.
“The stronger coordination between Korea, the US, and Japan requires more robust institutional foundations.
“Moreover, challenges that threaten regional security must be addressed by us building a stronger commitment to working together.”
President Yoon said all three countries will broaden collaboration in the field of cutting-edge technologies, specifically in artificial intelligence, quantum, bio, next-generation telecommunications, and space sectors.
