US, South Korea set to launch massive war games
Iran Press TV
Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:13PM GMT
The United States military says Washington and Seoul are set to hold major war games next week, with the participation of thousands of American troops.
US military sources said over 10,000 American troops will participate in the large-scale drill, code-named Twin Dragons.
The amphibious landing exercises are planned for March 27 through April 7, on the southeast coast of South Korea.
They will involve 7,500 US Marines, two thousand American Navy personnel, and an undisclosed number of Australian and South Korean forces.
Last year's drill fuelled tensions, with Pyongyang threatening a pre-emptive nuclear strike and US stealth bombers flying over the peninsula.
North Korea has always slammed such war games as rehearsals for an invasion.
But Seoul and Washington reject the idea, saying the military maneuvers are of defensive nature.
Tensions have been escalating between the two Koreas over the past few months.
North Korea said that it will take additional measures to demonstrate its might as long as threats from the US persist.
Pyongyang has recently announced that it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence for self-defense in the face of US threats.
Rail lines and other contacts between the two sides were first severed during the 1950-53 Korean War. No peace deal has been signed since then, meaning that Pyongyang and Seoul remain technically at war.
JR/AB
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