South Korea and the US will launch a 12-day-long joint military exercise starting Aug 19, the Combined Forces Command (CFC) said Sunday.
The computer-assisted simulation exercise -- dubbed "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" -- will go on till Aug 30, Xinhua cited the CFC as saying in a statement.
The drill will mobilise 30,000 US troops and 50,000 from South Korea.
Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of CFC and US forces in South Korea, said the exercise would be based on "realistic scenarios".
North Korea has been informed of the annual drill and its "non-provocative" nature, the statement said.
Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned the drill as preparation for a northward invasion.
