North Korea Quiet on US-South Korea Military Drill
South Korean army soldiers put on gas masks during South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, "Ulchi Focus Lens," at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 19, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drill, which began Monday, is largely conducted on computers. But it involves more than 80,000 South Korean and U.S. troops.
In previous years, North Korea reacted angrily to the exercises, calling them a rehearsal for war. But so far, the official media in North Korea has been silent on the event this year.
The drills follow several North-South agreements and come at a time of decreasing tensions on the peninsula.
A spokesman for the South Korean defense ministry, Kim Min-seok, says the exercises are necessary for stability on the peninsula.
"Ulchi Freedom Guardian ... is a joint military exercise by South Korea and the United States to be prepared for possible provocation from North Korea," he said. "The Korean peninsula is under constant threat from the North and the joint exercise is indispensable to maintaining stability."
Last week, North and South Korea agreed to work toward reopening a jointly-run factory park in Kaesong. On Sunday, the two sides agreed to participate in talks on reuniting families separated during the Korean War.
US and South Korea Hold Joint Military Exercise
1/6South Korean army soldiers take part in a South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise at a subway station in Seoul, August 20, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
2/6People take shelter from a mock gas attack during a South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise at a subway station in Seoul, August 20, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
3/6South Korean army soldiers pass by ticket gates during a South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise at a subway station in Seoul, August 19, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
4/6Students walk past South Korean soldiers wearing gas masks during an anti-terror drill at a subway station in Seoul during joint South Korean-U.S. military drills, August 19, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
5/6Những phụ nữ trong trang phục truyền thống sặc sỡ tham gia một buổi diễn tập điệu múa "garba" trước lễ hội Navratri ở thành phố Ahmedabad miền tây Ấn Độ.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
6/6Protesters stage a rally against South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises in front of Yongsan U.S. Army headquarters in Seoul, August 19, 2013.
The U.S. and South Korea have launched an annual joint military exercise, with a muted response from North Korea.
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