South Korea and the United States began their first joint naval exercises near the peninsula in five years on Monday, a day after Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile.
South Korea’s hardline President Yoon Seok-yol, who took office in May, has pledged to increase joint military exercises with the United States after years of failed diplomacy with North Korea under his predecessor.
The South Korean Navy announced in a statement: These drills are conducted with the aim of demonstrating the strong will of the South Korean-American alliance to respond to North Korea’s provocative actions.
Washington is Seoul’s main security ally and has about 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect North Korea from its nuclear weapons.
The South Korean Navy added: In this exercise, which will last four days on the eastern coast of South Korea, more than 20 warships and various aircraft will participate, and exercises in the field of anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, tactical maneuvers will be conducted. . and other maritime operations
South Korean Navy officer Kwak Kwang-sap said in a statement: “Through these exercises, we will improve the ability to conduct joint operations between the navies of the two countries.”
The drills come a day after Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile, the latest in a series of similar operations carried out by Pyongyang this year.
And South Korea’s presidency warned on Saturday that North Korea is preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), a weapon it tested last May.
Pyongyang has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year and earlier this month amended a law allowing it to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike and pledged not to give up its nuclear weapons.
Source: Lebanon Debate
