South Korean and U.S. militaries begin annual summertime drills to cope with North Korean threats

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea and the United States began their annual large-scale joint military exercise on Monday to better cope with threats by nuclear-armed North Korea , which has warned the drills would deepen regional tensions and vowed to respond to “any provocation” against its territory. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield, the second of two large-scale exercises held