U.S. Military Plans to Launch “Freedom Shield 25”

Conflict of interest: Claire Littman is a member of Koreans for Decolonization. This article was reviewed by Claire Ho Ferrance ‘26, signator and head of the chapter of Koreans for Decolonization.

Once again, the U.S. Military has organized plans to launch Freedom Shield, a subsection of Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, an annual exercise performed by the III Marine Expeditionary Force and the ROK military in South Korea (the Republic of Korea). According to a statement issued by the US Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) on February 14, 2025, Freedom Shield will begin in February and conclude in April. A similar news article was published on February 20, 2025, on the official website of the US Marines, confirming that “Hundreds of U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines are set to launch a nearly two-month series of bilateral training exercises across the South Korean Peninsula from February to April 2025.”

Nodutdol, an organization focused on ending U.S. military and political involvement in Korea, has stated that these war games will occur between March 10, 2025, and March 19, 2025. Their statement ambiguously cited South Korea’s Ministry of Defense (ROK MND). Upon further review of recent news and press statements by the ROK MND, these exact dates cannot be confirmed, but a few recently published articles on their website mention meetings between U.S. and ROK officials, reaffirming their military alliance and joint activities. These articles share a theme of expressing trepidation and unease from both countries surrounding possible threats coming from North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). For example, a recorded phone call between ROK Defense Minister Seon-ho Kim and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized “North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats” and “concerns about the deepening military alignment of North Korea and Russia” as primary motivations behind upholding the alliance between the U.S. and ROK.

Before exploring the potential consequences and current backlash to Freedom Shield, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of what exactly war games are. The term “war games” is an evolving phrase, but in this context, it refers to professional military simulations of armed conflict. Typically, war games are meant to train and strengthen military personnel and practice for possible future conflicts by testing out strategies and running through predicted scenarios. The United States Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) has updated its definition of Freedom Shield 25 to read “This annual exercise aims to build understanding between Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, the United Nations Command, and ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), ensuring their ability to fortify the combined defense posture and enhance Alliance response capabilities against a spectrum of security threats. It will feature live, virtual, constructive and field-based training, engaging personnel from the military services and other federal agencies.”

To a layperson, the announcement of Freedom Shield 25 may seem inconspicuous. However, political activists around the globe (particularly in Korea, the Philippines, and the U.S.) continue to express unrest and dissatisfaction with the practice. Netizens, civilians, formal organizations, and individual activists have raised many issues with the reality of Freedom Shield, referencing the repercussions of previous U.S. military activities and interventions in Korea. Organizations like Nodutdol frequently publish social media posts and online articles highlighting the layered and intersectional pain caused to the people of both South and North Korea. Frequently, the harm inflicted on Korean civilians is linked to the U.S. government’s concealed motives and propensity to send military forces into perceived “weaker” states, intending to advance its position as a global hegemon. This is a perspective shared by many people from (and allies to) states that have been swept into proxy conflicts by powerful states like the U.S. or Russia. Nodutdol’s very name in Korean (노듯돌) means “stepping stone,” which the organization’s statement of purpose links to their goal of “a world free of imperialism, and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation.” The organization’s articles, posts, and events promote solidarity between all civilians, especially those who have been or are currently living in states affected by imperialism.

Presently, Nodutdol is organizing protests against Freedom Shield 25 in major U.S. cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. More specific information about protests and mobilization efforts can be found on their Twitter/X and Instagram (@nodutdol on both platforms), and their website. 

With similar motivations, a new chapter of the organization Koreans For Decolonization (stylized as Koreans 4 Decolonization or simply K4D) has been launched at Reed this semester. The club’s statement of purpose is as follows: “Koreans 4 Decolonization is an identity-based political organization for Korean students and allies to learn more about Korean history and resistance efforts and form community with other students. We are guided by principles of anti-imperialism, anti-militarism, and belief in decolonization and Korean reunification. We provide political education on the history of colonization and imperialism in Korea as well as past and present resistance movements on the peninsula and abroad.” The club is currently organizing a political education book club and other educational events, and encourages anyone who stands in solidarity with the club’s purpose to join (@k4dreed on Instagram). 

On the subject of Freedom Shield 25, K4D at Reed has issued the following comment: “From March 10-19th, the U.S. will launch another round of "Freedom Shield," the name given to the war games in South Korea. These military exercises are acts of aggression, displays of power designed to intimidate and enforce U.S. dominance in Asia and the Pacific. From the U.S. military presence in Korea, the continued occupation of Palestine, to the violent repression in the Philippines, we must confront the imperial core from within the belly of the beast. Koreans 4 Decolonization will be hosting an event on March 1 from 1:00–3:00pm in Aspen focused on political education surrounding Samiljeol (삼일절), discussing the 106th anniversary of the March 1st Movement. We will also provide resources for understanding and resisting the existence of ‘Freedom Shield’ and U.S. war games. U.S. out of Korea. U.S. out of everywhere! 투쟁!”