SEOUL, Aug 5 (NNN-KYODO) – South Korea and the United States began a joint military drill Monday despite warnings from North Korea, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong Doo told parliament.
The scaled-back combined command post exercise, called 19-2 Dong Maeng, will be held through Aug. 20 to test South Korea’s capability to retake operational control over its forces from the United States during wartime.
It mostly involves computer simulations, not mobilization of troops or military equipment.
North Korea has said it launched two projectiles, suspected of being short-range ballistic missiles, on July 26 to send a warning to the South over the exercise, which it condemns as a rehearsal for an invasion.
It also fired projectiles last Wednesday and Friday, and the South Korean and U.S. militaries are on alert more such provocations during and after the period of the exercise.
Photo courtesy of Korea Media
NNN-KYODO
