Australia has deployed a contingent of 26 planning and support staff to the Republic of Korea to participate in Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield. The contingent comprises of 23 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and three civilian policy advisers.
Ulchi Freedom Shield is an annual exercise involving United Nations Command member states such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The exercise enhances the readiness of the Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
During the exercise, Australian personnel will contribute to the United Nations Command Headquarters at US Army Garrison Humphreys through the planning and simulated execution of operations based on crisis scenarios.
Australia has been an active United Nations Command member state since the 1950-1953 Korean War. The ADF routinely participates in activities, like UFS23, to support the Republic of Korea and to maintain the Korean War Armistice Agreement.
Australia has participated in Ulchi Freedom Shield since 2010.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher
“Routine exercises with Australia’s key regional partners strengthen our ability to meet shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific.”
“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.”
