US, S Korea marines stage major landing drill
Thousands of US and South Korean troops, backed by helicopters and jet fighters, have launched a massive, amphibious landing drill - the centrepiece of an annual military exercise condemned by North Korea.
Caption: An unrelated file photo.
POHANG, SOUTH KOREA (AFP): Thousands of US and South Korean troops, backed by helicopters and jet fighters, staged a massive, amphibious landing drill Monday - the centrepiece of an annual military exercise condemned by North Korea.
A total of 7,600 soldiers, including 3,500 marines, along with 80 aircraft, 30 ships, and scores of armoured vehicles and tanks, took part in the drill to secure a bridgehead along the coast of Pohang, some 360 kilometres south of Seoul.
Supervised by US and South Korean military commanders, the landing exercise was the highlight of the eight-week Foal Eagle drill which is scheduled to end on April 24.
The annual drills always trigger a surge in military tensions between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
The United States and South Korea insist the joint exercises are defensive in nature, but North Korea denounces them as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
A total of 7,600 soldiers, including 3,500 marines, along with 80 aircraft, 30 ships, and scores of armoured vehicles and tanks, took part in the drill to secure a bridgehead along the coast of Pohang, some 360 kilometres south of Seoul.
Supervised by US and South Korean military commanders, the landing exercise was the highlight of the eight-week Foal Eagle drill which is scheduled to end on April 24.
The annual drills always trigger a surge in military tensions between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
The United States and South Korea insist the joint exercises are defensive in nature, but North Korea denounces them as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
