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South Korea and US forces storm mock North Korea beach

Simulated landing drills form part of eight-week annual war games in South Korea, amid heightened tensions with North.

U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
South Korean (blue headbands) and US Marines take part in a US-South Korea joint landing operation drill in Pohang, South Korea [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
Published On 14 Mar 201614 Mar 2016
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US and South Korean troops have staged a large amphibious landing exercise, storming simulated North Korean beach defences amid heightened tension and threats by the North to annihilate its enemies.

The landing and assault drills on South Korea’s east coast were part of eight weeks of joint exercises between the allies which the South has said are the largest ever.

The North has denounced the exercises as “nuclear war moves” and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with a long-range rocket launch last month, triggering new UN sanctions.

About 55 US marine aircraft and 30 US and South Korean ships, including the USS Bonhomme Richard and USS Boxer, which carry AV-8B Harrier attack jets and V-22 Osprey aircraft, took part in the assault on beaches near Pohang city, the US navy said.

U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
The Navy and Marine Corps of the US and South Korea conduct an amphibious landing drill [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
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U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
They call it 'Ssang Yong' - a biennial joint amphibious exercise [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
A US Marine takes part in the operation [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
US military official John Jansen said: 'We believe that with strong alliances and partnerships in our area and responsibility, we bring peace and stability to this region' [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
South Korean Marine Corps personnel react to smoke during the US-South Korea joint landing operation drill [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
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U.S.-South Korea joint landing operation drill
South Korea and the US said they had notified the North of 'the non-provocative nature' of the exercises [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]


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