U.S. and South Korean military forces began the largest joint military exercise in their history on Saturday, March 13, on the eastern coast of South Korea. North Korea has described this operation as "nuclear war maneuvers" and threatened a "full-scale invasion" in response to these "movements." North Korea has also threatened a "preemptive" nuclear strike, stating that it will not make exceptions regarding the types of targets in such an attack. The North Korean army announced in a statement that "the revolutionary armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have taken up their weapons to destroy enemies and, with increasing hatred towards them, are waiting for the glorious command of the Supreme Commander to issue the order for a just preemptive attack." The joint exercise, which is set to last eight weeks, involves 300,000 South Korean troops and 17,000 U.S. military personnel, along with U.S. strategic ships and fighter jets. According to Reuters, about 55 American fighter jets and 30 ships from both countries are participating in this exercise. This military drill comes after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and, last month, launched a long-range missile test, leading to a new UN resolution and severe new sanctions against North Korea. CNN reports that North Korea has been searching for one of its submarines that has gone off the radar on the eastern coast of the country for several days. U.S. officials told CNN that this submarine may have sunk due to technical issues. North Korea claims to be developing the capability to launch ballistic missiles from submarines, but Western experts say that North Korea's tests in this regard have so far failed. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has instructed officials in the country to prepare for new nuclear tests amid a new wave of tensions in East Asia. The United States has approximately 28,500 of its military personnel permanently stationed in South Korea.
The Largest Joint Military Exercise Between the U.S. and South Korea Begins
The U.S. and South Korea have commenced their largest joint military exercise, prompting North Korea to threaten nuclear retaliation. This exercise involves significant troop deployments and comes in the wake of North Korea's recent missile tests and nuclear developments.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
U.S. and South Korea conduct largest military exercise, prompting North Korea's nuclear threats.
- U.S. and South Korean military forces announce North Korea
- North Korea threaten U.S. and South Korea
- Kim Jong-un prepare North Korean officials
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The military exercise signals a strong U.S.-South Korea alliance amidst North Korean provocations.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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