South Korea Stages Nationwide Civil Defense Drill Amid Ulchi Exercise

South Korea conducted a nationwide civil defense drill on Thursday as part of the ongoing annual Ulchi Exercise, a government readiness program focused on emergency management and civil protection.

Sirens blared across the country, prompting police and city officials to halt traffic and direct citizens to subway stations and building basements. The exercise was designed to test public response and government coordination in the event of a crisis.

Hwang Hyo-min, a 70-year-old Seoul resident, said she does not dwell on national security matters. Commenting on U.S. policy, she remarked that President Donald Trump's actions appear to be pressure on South Korea rather than an effort to engage North Korea, adding that growing up in a divided country makes her particularly anxious.

Fabio Tosi, a 58-year-old Italian tourist, was crossing a street in Seoul when the sirens began. He expressed surprise that such a drill could be held citywide, comparing it to a fire alarm exercise one might expect in a private company, and praised the city's preparedness for unexpected events.

The Ulchi Exercise is linked to the larger Ulchi Freedom Shield, a joint South Korea-U.S. military training event. The two allies recently agreed to significantly reduce the scale of these drills at Washington's request, a move seen as reflecting Trump's interest in reopening dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump ordered the downsizing of the summertime exercises just before they began on Monday for an 11-day run, citing his relationship with Kim and South Korea's stance on Iran.