SEOUL, South Korea, August 18, SPA -- South Korea and the UnitedStates kicked off annual joint military drills Monday witha focus on preparing Seoul to retake wartime command of itsforces from Washington in 2012. The drill _ called Ulchi Freedom Guardian _ is acomputer-simulated war game. South Korean forces will takeon more leadership this year in preparation for the comingcommand transfer, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefsof Staff and the U.S. military. The drill, which runs through Thursday, involves 56,000South Korean troops and 10,000 U.S. soldiers in South Koreaand abroad, the Associated Press reported. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak presided over ameeting of his country's National Security Council as partof civil defense drills related to the exercise. He laterconvened a Cabinet meeting in an underground bunker at thepresidential office and told ministers not to let theirguard down concerning inter-Korean relations, according tohis office.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/582989