ID :
51377
Thu, 03/19/2009 - 14:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/51377
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea, U.S. wind up joint military drill
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States effectively ended their joint annual military exercise on Thursday, officials said, amid lingering tension with North Korea.
The Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise, which kicked off last Monday, involved
over 25,000 American troops, a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier and tens of
thousands of South Korean troops.
The allies have completed their scheduled training sessions and will formally end
their exercise with an evaluation on Friday, the officials at the South Korean
defense ministry said.
The exercise has been the target of severe criticism by North Korea, which
believes it amounts to preparations for an invasion. South Korea and the U.S. say
the exercise is purely defensive.
During the event, North Korea refused to ensure the safety of South Korean
passenger planes flying near its airspace, forcing airlines to divert their
flights.
The communist state has also blocked its last remaining military communication
line with the South. The two countries are locked in a technical state of war
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
The U.S.-South Korea exercise tests the abilities of the allies to quickly
reinforce frontline troops should North Korea invade the South.
It also aims to improve their combined abilities to deter rear infiltration by
North Korean forces, a portion of the drill that South Korean forces will
continue independently until mid-April.
The joint exercise took place amid South Korean and U.S. warnings for North Korea
to stop preparations for a launch of what it calls a communications satellite.
The allies believe the object may in fact be a long-range ballistic missile
capable of reaching Alaska.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are regularly stationed in South Korea as a deterrent
against North Korea.
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States effectively ended their joint annual military exercise on Thursday, officials said, amid lingering tension with North Korea.
The Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise, which kicked off last Monday, involved
over 25,000 American troops, a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier and tens of
thousands of South Korean troops.
The allies have completed their scheduled training sessions and will formally end
their exercise with an evaluation on Friday, the officials at the South Korean
defense ministry said.
The exercise has been the target of severe criticism by North Korea, which
believes it amounts to preparations for an invasion. South Korea and the U.S. say
the exercise is purely defensive.
During the event, North Korea refused to ensure the safety of South Korean
passenger planes flying near its airspace, forcing airlines to divert their
flights.
The communist state has also blocked its last remaining military communication
line with the South. The two countries are locked in a technical state of war
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
The U.S.-South Korea exercise tests the abilities of the allies to quickly
reinforce frontline troops should North Korea invade the South.
It also aims to improve their combined abilities to deter rear infiltration by
North Korean forces, a portion of the drill that South Korean forces will
continue independently until mid-April.
The joint exercise took place amid South Korean and U.S. warnings for North Korea
to stop preparations for a launch of what it calls a communications satellite.
The allies believe the object may in fact be a long-range ballistic missile
capable of reaching Alaska.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are regularly stationed in South Korea as a deterrent
against North Korea.
