South Korea, US complete joint drill in East Sea

ANKARA

South Korean and US forces completed a combined marine exercise in the East Sea, the South’s navy said Thursday.

The two countries’ navies held a two-day exercise starting Wednesday in waters off Pohang some 270 kilometers (167.7 miles) southeast of Seoul involving four naval vessels, including the ROKS Marado and the USS Boxer, both amphibious assault ships, the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported.

The USS Boxer can carry around 40 aircraft, including F-35B stealth fighters.

"The two navies will improve our ability to carry out combined operations and interoperability and sternly respond to any form of provocations from the enemy," said Capt. Kim Kyung-ho, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 53 of the South Korean Navy.

The joint drills were held a day after the South Korean military displayed its military might on the 76th anniversary of the founding of its armed forces, showcasing a new ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5, for the first time.

Addressing the ceremony, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that North Korea would face the end of its regime if Pyongyang attempted to use nuclear weapons against his country.

On Wednesday, local media reported that South Korea signed a deal with Poland to purchase suicide drones amid growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Last month, North Korea publicly disclosed a uranium enrichment facility for the first time, according to Yonhap News Agency, as leader Kim Jong Un called for an expansion of the country's nuclear capabilities.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid