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The largest amphibious landing drill on the Korean peninsula in two decades is currently
underway on the nation's southeast coast, and you can be sure that North Korea is paying
close attention from afar. They regard the annual exercises as a rehearsal
for invasion. Our National Defense Ministry Correspondent
Kim Hyun-bin reports from Pohang. U.S. and South Korean marines blaze across the water
to secure the shoreline and their positions on Korea's southeastern coast.
The marines are here for the joint South Korea-U.S. amphibious landing exercise dubbed Double
Dragon, which started on March 27th and runs through April 7th.
It's part of the annual Foal Eagle drills between the two allies.
"Through this joint exercise,... Korea and U.S. forces are working as one to suppress
war with our might, while enhancing our interoperability."
This is the largest amphibious landing drill in South Korea in two decades,... with over
12-thousand-500 U.S and South Korean forces taking part.
The 3rd Marines Expeditionary Brigade from Okinawa is here, along with 22 Osprey multi-mission
aircraft, 13 naval vessels and others. The Expeditionary Brigade played an active
role in the Iraq war, and if a conflict were to break out on the peninsula, they'd be among
the first to arrive.
"Both the people of South Korea and the citizens of the United States ought to rest assure
that their military is taking their mission very serious, that we are training as hard
as we can, we are trying to do it in the most economical fashion as we can."
The Double Dragon drill seeks to enhance interoperability and working relationships between the two
militaries across a range of operations... from disaster relief to complex expeditionary
operations.
"North Korea has condemned the drills,... calling them a rehearsal for an invasion.
Some experts say that, given the level of anger, it's highly likely Pyongyang will conduct
a ballistic missile launch or fourth nuclear test before the training is over on April
7th." Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News, Pohang."