US, South Korea conduct joint drills to strengthen military operations

South Korean and the US marine troops conducted air and ground joint combat training today near the port city Pohang, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Seoul.

The drills mobilised about 1,300 Marine Corps from the two countries, as well as eight Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicles (KAAV), armoured combat Earthmover, mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) and several mortars.

"As the most powerful military forces spearheading the alliance between South Korea and the United States, South Korean and US Marine Corps are prepared in the most perfect manner to strongly punish any kind of threat from the enemies that threaten our national security," said a quick reaction forces commander of the South Korean Marine Corps, Kim Hoi-min, at the artillery range.

North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles on June 22 drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programmes.

There are 28,500 US troops stationed in the South as part of combined defence with the South's military of more than 600,000. The North has an army of 1.2 million.

The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War.

(Reuters)