한미, 대규모 연합훈련 시작…'북 핵심시설 타격' 초점
South Korean and U.S. troops kicked off large-scale military exercises on this Monday... in an annual test of their defenses against North Korea.
What sets this year's apart from previous years is that it is the largest ever following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month that triggered UN Security Council resolution and tough new sanctions.
Our national defense correspondent Kim Hyun-bin has this report.
South Korea's defense ministry says it will strongly retaliate if North Korea carries out a provocation during the drills.
"If North Korea continues to ignore our warnings and carries on with its provocations,... we will sternly counter them and the regime will be responsible for its reckless actions."
The allies' annual joint military drills dubbed 'Key Resolve' and 'Foal Eagle' are now underway as tension simmers on the Korean Peninsula.
The exercises, which run through the end of April, will involve almost 300-thousand South Korean and 15-thousand American troops.
What's new this year is that the allies will practice Operational Plan 5015.
It will see the forces check what they would do during a preemptive strike on North Korea's nuclear facilities and missile sites.
The troops will also conduct training missions involving the 4Ds, namely detect, disrupt, destroy and defend.
In addition to... doubling the number of U.S. troops taking part in this year’s exercises,... Washington will also deploy some key military hardware to the Korean Peninsula for the first time...including an aircraft carrier, nuclear submarine and two 40 thousand ton amphibious assault ships.
There's also been word that Washington could deploy its nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bomber.
In a real-life combat scenario,... the aircraft could be deployed on missions in North Korean territory and remain undetected while targeting key military facilities.
" Experts say the B-2 is the weapon the North fears most because of its stealth and bombing capabilities.
Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News."
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