SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Defense Ministry said Sunday that a large-scale military exercise will be kicked off by South Korea and the United States in South Korea on Monday.

　　According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, about 56,000 South Korean troops and 10,000 U.S. soldiers will take part in the five-day exercise, named Ulchi Freedom Guardian.

　　The joint military drills will "focus on checking operations led by South Korean forces and supported by U.S. troops," Yonhap quoted an unnamed South Korean Defense Ministry official as saying.

　　South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the upcoming military exercise will be the first time that South Korean and U.S. troops form separate commands.

　　The change is part of a bigger alliance transformation due in April 2012 when South Korea will take over wartime command of its own soldiers, currently under control of the United States, Yonhap said.