• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Invincible Spirit

"Analysts warn that North Korea’s emerging nuclear arsenal requires the United States to adjust its plans for conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean officials would interpret large-scale conventional strikes against high-value political, C2, ISR, and weapons system targets as the start of a campaign to destroy the regime, prompting it to unleash a desperate attempt to end the war through limited nuclear attacks on its neighbors and/or U.S. forces in the region. This development would leave U.S. officials with two horrible options: either continue to fight with conventional means while risking further nuclear attacks, or disarm or destroy the regime and much of the country with nuclear weapons, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in the process.

"The theme running through these critiques is that attempting an early knockout blow could strip away an adversary’s incentives for nuclear restraint, and U.S. policymakers might refuse to authorize such operations at the outset of a confrontation. This disconnect could undermine U.S. deterrence. Deterrent threats that are anchored in realistic employment strategies are more credible precisely because the United States might use them. But to be credible, employment plans must acknowledge that escalation concerns would permeate U.S. decisions through every phase of a military confrontation with North Korea and China." ["After the First Shots: Managing Escalation in Northeast Asia", By Vincent A. Manzo, JFQ 77, 2nd Quarter 2015]

Invincible Spirit 2010

Invincible Spirit was anything but a typical exercise. Most exercises are planned months in advance to line up the logistics; Invincible Spirit went from boots on the ground July 13 to locked and cocked July 25. Seoul and Washington staged a massive joint naval exercise codenamed Invincible Spirit in July 2010, in the wake of the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan, which Seoul claims was the work of North Korea. Pyongyang vehemently denied all the accusations, which it says hold no water.

USS George Washington (CVN 73) completed its role in the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) combined alliance military exercise "Invincible Spirit" 28 July 2010. The four-day exercise, which began July 25, involving the two longtime allies combining their military forces for operations in the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea and throughout the Korean peninsula, furthering their communication and readiness in surface, air and sea operations.

"What has unfolded here over the last few days in the sea, shore and the skies of ROK is a very strong and powerful signal to those who threaten the security and stability of our special alliance and this region," said Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander, Task Force 70. "On behalf of my staff, I would like to thank everyone for their overall participation in making this exercise a complete success. The U.S.-ROK alliance is strong; this exercise is a testament to that bond."

George Washington Commanding Officer Capt. David A. Lausman praised his crew for their ambassadorship and hard work during the military exercise. "You all played a vital role in representing our country's strong alliance with the ROK," said Lausman. "You all showed resolve to the entire world why the United States and ROK possess a very strong alliance and together our capabilities are solid and forms a truly seamless team."

George Washington operated in the Sea of Japan for the duration of the exercise, conducting air and maritime operations with ROK forces. One of the key factors of George Washington's success was constant and accurate communication throughout operation "Invincible Shield" with the ROK.

About 8,000 U.S. and South Korean servicemembers participated. Invincible Spirit was more than just a flight exercise for Iwakuni units. Off the coast in the Sea of Japan, approximately 20 ships and submarines were in place and the eight aircraft of Iwakuni were a fraction of the 200 involved.

The exercise was in response to the unprovoked attack on and sinking of the South Korean frigate, Cheonan, off the west coast of the peninsula. Forty-six South Korean sailors were killed in the North Korean torpedo attack on the vessel.

Invincible Spirit 2016

The United States and South Korean militaries began joint drills off the coast of the Korean Peninsula 10 October 2016. The US military deployed the nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, and 6 other vessels. South Korea brought more than 40 vessels, including some equipped with the advanced Aegis radar system. The USS Ronald Reagan's homeport is in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. They plan to simulate an attack from the sea on the North's military and its submarines.

As many as 15,000 US troops and about 290,000 South Korean soldiers took part in Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, two joint US-South Korean military exercises that were held between March and April. The exercise presupposed dispatching the US overseas forces to the Korean Peninsula and practicing the elimination of Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction. © AP PHOTO/ LEE JIN-MAN US Hesitant to Bring Nukes Back to South Korea as Tensions Rise With Pyongyang In August, tens of thousands of US and South Korean soldiers were involved in two weeks of drills that simulated a full-scale invasion by North Korea.

On September 13th, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Vincent Brooks suggested the gradual deployment of the U.S.’ bombers, aircraft carriers and other strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula.

Taking part in the six-day exercises will be the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, as well as the destroyers Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), John S. McCain (DDG-56), Fitzgerald (DDG-62), Stethem (DDG-63) and Barry (DDG-52). For the first time in the history of the 63-year standoff between North and South, the 6-day drills in the Japan Sea and the Yellow Sea were held along the entire coast of the peninsular country, in the Yellow and Japan Seas.

The allies' navies mobilized dozens of warships and submarines for the drills", suchT as Ticonderoga-class Aegis missile cruisers, P-3 and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, Apache helicopters and FA-18C Hornet fighter jets.

The two navies carried out a drill to enhance their precision strike capabilities against North Korea’s command center and key military facilities. In the East and Yellow Seas, there was a maritime counter special operations force (MCSOF) exercise against possible infiltrations by the enemy. A carrier strike group will simultaneously conduct an exercise in southwestern waters of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean and US navies boosted interoperability and joint operation capabilities through war-simulated exercises, such as antisubmarine, antiaircraft and precision-guided striking operations. The drills began on the anniversary of the founding of the DPRK's ruling Workers's Party, amid concern over possible moves by North Korea. The South Korean military says the purpose of the drill is to show the strong determination of the alliance that the North should pay for its provocation. North Korea'ss state-run media reacted sharply to the drills, denouncing the 2 countries.