Politics
14:16, 21-Aug-2017
US and ROK kick off joint drills amid tensions over DPRK
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The South Korean and US forces kicked off their joint computer-simulated military drills on Monday amid heightened tensions over the the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) missile and nuclear programs.
The DPRK warned on Sunday that the US will be "pouring gasoline on fire" by conducting the military exercises with South Korea.
Despite the warning, US and South Korean militaries launched this year’s 11-day exercises on Monday morning as scheduled. The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, which run through August 31, involves 17,500 American troops and 50,000 South Korean soldiers.
Both US and ROK claim that the drills are defensive in nature.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that DPRK must not use the drills as a pretext to launch fresh provocation, saying the training is held regularly because of repeated provocations by DPRK.
(Top image: file photo)