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US, S Korea drop anti-sub bombs in
drills
AP , ABOARD THE USS CURTIS WILBUR
Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010, Page 4
The South Korean Navy¡¦s Choi Young KDX-II
destroyer fires a Torpedo Acoustic Counter Measures device decoy during the
joint military exercises between the US and South Korea on the East Sea of South
Korea yesterday.
PHOTO: REUTERS
US and South Korean naval ships fired artillery and dropped anti-submarine bombs
off South Korea¡¦s east coast yesterday, the third day of high-profile military
maneuvers intended to warn North Korea against any aggression.
Yesterday, both Koreas and the US marked the 57th anniversary of the signing of
the armistice against the backdrop of the military drills.
¡§Since our nation¡¦s founding, the United States has relied on our armed forces
to ensure our safety and security at home, and to protect lives and liberties
around the globe,¡¨ US President Barack Obama said in a statement marking the
anniversary. ¡§I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities that honor our distinguished Korean War veterans.¡¨
In Pyongyang, soldiers and citizens marked the anniversary by laying bouquets at
the foot of the Korean War memorial in the capital city, footage from TV news
agency APTN showed.
North Korea has strongly protested the exercises as a provocation.
¡§This is an impure attempt to stifle [North Korea] by means of armed force,¡¨
North Korean army officer Hong Sung-chol told APTN in Pyongyang. ¡§If the US
imperialists ignite war again, our army and people will totally uproot the
source of the war under the leadership of our brilliant commander, General Kim
Jong-il.¡¨
So far, there was no sign North Korea was preparing to mount the defense it
warned of in the days before the drills began last Sunday, military officials
said.
The exercises, dubbed ¡§Invincible Spirit,¡¨ involve about 20 ships, 200 aircraft
and about 8,000 US and South Korean sailors.
Most of the firepower has been flying off the decks of the USS George
Washington, a US supercarrier that can carry up to 70 aircraft and more than
5,000 sailors and aviators.
¡§It¡¦s been a success,¡¨ said Commander Paul Hogue, commanding officer of the US
destroyer Curtis Wilbur. ¡§It¡¦s a show of force, a deterrent.¡¨
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