The US and South Korea launched a joint anti-submarine exercise yesterday in a show of strength against the North, which is preparing for a key meeting of its ruling party.
The exercise starts a day before the opening of the Workers’ Party of Korea conference in Pyongyang, expected to pave the way for a power transfer from Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un.
The Yellow Sea drill is the latest in a flurry of exercises Seoul has staged — either alone or with the US — since North Korea was accused of sinking a South Korean warship in March with the loss of 46 lives.
“About 1,700 South Korean and US navy forces are involved in submarine detection training and high-level combat training,” a spokesman for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The latest exercise includes two guided-missile destroyers and a fast attack submarine from the US Navy and two South Korean destroyers, but it does not feature a US aircraft carrier, unlike a joint naval exercise in late July.
On Sunday, Pyongyang criticized the latest military drill, calling it “premeditated war maneuvers” and threatening to “mercilessly wipe them out.”
Also See: Party delegates gather in Pyongyang
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