US and South Korea begin naval exercises

South Korea and the United States have started joint naval exercises near the Korean peninsula. On Monday (September 26), the two countries conducted the first exercise in five years. They started the exercise a day after Pyongyang test-fired a ballistic missile. News from AFP.

Washington has about 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea to protect South Korea from Seoul's main security ally and nuclear-armed North Korea.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office last May, pledged to intensify joint military exercises with the United States. He made the pledge after years of diplomatic failures with North Korea under his predecessor's administration.

A statement from the South Korean Navy said, 'The exercise was launched to demonstrate the tough stance of the South Korea-US alliance in response to North Korea's provocative actions.

It also said that more than 20 ships and a warship will participate in the four-day naval exercise off the east coast of South Korea. Ship and submarine destruction exercises will be conducted with the participation of these ships.

Kayak Kwang, a senior officer of the South Korean Navy, said in a statement, "Through this exercise, we will further improve our ability to conduct joint operations between the navies of the two countries."

The exercise comes a day after nuclear-armed Pyongyang test-fired another ballistic missile.