A fleet of warships from the United States and South Korea began today in the Sea of Japan, military maneuvers in the face of North Korea. U.S. military denied that the maneuvers are a provocation, but admitted that they are intended to send a strong message to the communist regime and are a response to the sinking of a warship South Korea in March that left 46 sailors killed.
The maneuvers, which will last until Wednesday, involves about 8,000 U.S. military and South Korea, 20 warships and submarines and 200 aircraft. The aircraft carrier George Washington, with several hundred sailors and fighter planes aboard, was sent from Japan “We are showing our determination,” said Capt. David Lausman, commander of the aircraft carrier.
These maneuvers are the first in a series between the U.S. and South Korea, conducted in the Sea of Japan and also in the Yellow Sea, closer to China in international waters. The maneuvers are the first to employ the F-22 Stealth of the USA – can go unnoticed by the air defense of North Korea. The jets are being used in South Korean airspace.
North Korea said that the maneuvers are an “unpardonable provocation” and threatened to retaliate with “nuclear deterrence” and “holy war”. The North often threatens attacks when South Korea and the U.S. conduct joint military maneuvers, which Pyongyang sees as a rehearsal for an invasion. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea and another 50,000 in Japan, but claim no intentions of invading the North.
Via: CNN.
