US Army CBRNE Command Partners with South Korea in Ulchi Freedom Shield Amid North Korean Missile Threats.

From August 19 to 29, 2024, the U.S. Army's deployable and multifunctional Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command participated in the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) 24 exercise in South Korea. While the holding of such exercises is routine, this iteration carries particular significance given North Korea's ongoing ballistic missile tests and its continued development of weapons capabilities, directly threatening South Korea.
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American Soldiers from the 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Company (Hazardous Response) "Mountain Dragons" are bolstering the Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance combined defense posture during a rotational deployment near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (Picture source: US DoD)

Ulchi Freedom Shield 24 is a routine defense exercise designed to strengthen the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States, ensuring stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. This annual exercise integrates live training and constructive simulations involving South Korean, American, and multinational forces. The training focuses on multi-domain operations, leveraging land, sea, air, cyber, and space resources, as well as non-kinetic effects.

The 20th CBRNE Command, which houses the majority of the U.S. Army's active-duty CBRN specialists and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, also includes the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams (WCT), and Nuclear Disablement Teams. These specialized units play a critical role in confronting and neutralizing the world's most dangerous threats, supporting joint, interagency, and multinational operations.

During the exercise, one of the 20th CBRNE Command's Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams provided specialized CBRNE personnel and technical expertise to combatant commanders and key federal agencies. Conducting joint exercises between South Korea and the United States, especially in the CBRNE domain, is crucial for addressing specific threats posed by North Korea. The immediate proximity of South Korea to North Korea, which possesses nuclear and chemical weapons, makes the Korean Peninsula a high-risk area.

In the event of a conflict, North Korea could potentially use weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles or chemical and biological agents, against South Korean targets. These exercises enable U.S. and South Korean forces to prepare for scenarios requiring rapid detection, decontamination, and neutralization of such threats. The collaboration within these exercises also enhances the ability of both nations to coordinate their efforts in real-time, thereby minimizing potential casualties and improving resilience against a CBRNE attack.

Major Steven M. Modugno, the public affairs director for the 20th CBRNE Command, emphasized the importance of this exercise, highlighting the strong partnership between U.S. and South Korean forces. He noted that American troops have maintained a constant presence on the Korean Peninsula for over 70 years, working closely with their South Korean allies to ensure regional security.