S Korea, US to hold joint drill
SOUTH KOREA and the United States said they would launch an annual military exercise later this mouth, routinely denounced by North Korea as an "all-out war rehearsal".
The South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC) will conduct the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise from August 19 through to August 30, the CFC said in a press statement.
"Ulchi Freedom Guardian is a critical alliance exercise to sustain the readiness" of the two allies' armed forces, said General James Thurman, commander of the 28500 US troops based in the South.
About 30000 US troops, including those based in the south, plus 3000 from overseas, are taking part in the drill, a CFC said.