US, South Korea Begin Annual Military Drills Amid Threats From ...

By VOA -- (March 10, 2013)

U.S. and South Korean forces have begun an annual military exercise, labeled ?Key Resolve,? despite North Korean threats to respond by voiding the armistice that ended the Korean War.

Pyongyang has also made a threat to launch a nuclear attack on the United States, although analysts believe North Korea is not currently capable of such an attack.

In an immediate response to the start of the military exercises Monday, the North apparently carried out another threat to cut off the hot-line between Pyongyang and Seoul. Two checks of the phone connection by Seoul Monday went unanswered.

This year?s exercise, which will last until March 21, comes after North Korea conducted its third nuclear test last month, prompting a U.N. Security Council resolution imposing tougher sanctions on the country.

Threats from the North during such joint exercises are nothing new, but analysts fear that one accident could trigger a confrontation that could escalate into a serious conflict. Pyongyang generally says the exercises are a rehearsal for invading the North.

South Korea usually does not react to the threats from Pyongyang. However, Seoul recently promised to retaliate for any provocation from the North.

Source: http://www.albanytribune.com/10032013-us-south-korea-begin-annual-military-drills-amid-threats-from-north-korea/

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