South Korea, U.S. launch massive naval exerciseJune 23, 2012 - 10:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Korea and the United States on Saturday, June 23, launched a massive naval exercise in the tense Yellow Sea, ahead of the 62nd anniversary Monday of the outbreak of the Korean War, a spokesman said, according to AFP. The three-day drill will involve 10 South Korean warships plus the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, 8,000 personnel and hundreds of combat aircraft, the defense ministry said. The joint naval drill, which comes amid high tensions on the peninsula, is conducted every year, alternatively in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and the Yellow Sea. "The naval exercise started as scheduled today," the defense ministry spokesman said. On Friday, South Korean and U.S. troops held their biggest single-day joint live-fire exercise to test responses to any North Korean attack. The drill at Pocheon near the North Korean border involved 2,000 troops along with jet fighters, tanks, Apache attack helicopters, A-10 "tank-killer" aircraft, missiles and rocket launchers, the defense ministry said. On Thursday and Friday, the U.S., South Korea and Japan carried out a separate drill off the southern South Korean island of Jeju, involving destroyers, supply ships and helicopters. North Korea denounced it as a "reckless provocation". Tensions are high after the North's failed rocket launch in April, seen by the U.S. and its allies as an attempted ballistic missile test. "Throughout the joint military exercises, South Korean and U.S. forces will test their ability for joint operations and enhance combat-readiness," Navy Brigadier General Park Seong-Bae said in a statement Friday. "We will immediately retaliate against any attacks from North Korea and finish the enemy off on the spot." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. |