New Ulchi Taeguk exercise starting Monday

We begin this Monday morning with a new civilian-military exercise, the Ulchi Taegeuk, that kicks off today.
Launched by South Korea, the four-day drills replaces the UFG drills - a South Korea, U.S. joint military exercise that's been held annually for the last 43 years.
According to Seoul's defense and interior ministries, the new civilian, military drills involve some 480-thousand people from 4-thousand government offices and is aimed at better bracing for various contingencies.
The move is the latest in a series of defense drill changes meant to lower tensions on the Korean peninsula and support peace efforts with North Korea.
Arirang News' Kim Ji-yeon has this report.
Seoul's defense ministry says the new Ulchi Taeguk exercise... is an alternative to the previously held joint exercise with the U.S., the Ulchi Freedom Guardian,... which had been conducted annually for more than four decades, but was suspended this year.
Some four-thousand government and related agencies... including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are participating in the new Ulchi Taeguk exercise, which involves some 480-thousand people.
The new type of exercise combines two existing programs... the Ulchi exercise, aimed at promoting military readiness in case of war... and the Taeguk command post exercise, which focuses on the battle readiness of government and military staff.
This year's Ulchi Taeguk exercise is made up of two parts.
The first part, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday, involves contingency measures and training for handling national crises and disasters such as earthquakes.
State-of-the-art technology such as drones and unmanned planes are being used... as well as the testing of communication channels between forces on the ground and the country's Natural Disaster and Safety Status Control Center.
The second part of the exercise is aimed at promoting military readiness in case of war... and involves both military and non-military personnel.
It's to take place from 4PM local time on Tuesday until Thursday.
According to an official from Seoul's defense ministry... the focus of the second part this year is in raising Korea's military capabilities with the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul in mind.
The parts of the exercises involving civilians include education on CPR and evacuation protocols in case of fires.
There are also exercises to prepare for cyber terrorism.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.