From August 16 to 26, the United States and South Korea, East Sea in Korea (Sea of Japan) and Korean West Sea (Yellow Sea) to conduct joint military exercises. This is a two time in less than a month, and the second joint exercises.

Large-scale than in previous years have

It is reported that the “Ulchi free” Guardian joint military exercises will be about 30,000 U.S. troops and about 56,000 South Korean troops to participate. U.S. military spokesman said a number of U.S. soldiers will join the exercise in the local community through the Internet.

Exercise, the ROK-US Combined Forces Command will hold anti-terrorism security exercise for the November 11, held in Seoul in preparation for the Group of 20 summit.

According to South Korean media reported that the purpose of this exercise is to enhance South Korea’s defense capabilities, will focus on the comprehensive training of all officers and soldiers and military commanders to improve decision-making capacity.

Commander of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, General Walter • Sharp said the exercise was “the world’s largest by the joint staff command of one of the theater exercises.”

1975, U.S. and South Korea are held every year between the two countries, “Ulchi Focus Lens” joint military exercises. From 2009, the joint military exercise renamed “Ulchi freedom defender”, marks the beginning exercise led by the South Korean army.

It is noteworthy that, in the exercise before the start of the US-ROK military has declared to be large in scale than in previous years. The exercises in the past generally have more than 10,000 local and U.S. troops participated, but the number of participants has reached U.S. 30 000.

Continued US-ROK military exercise

In recent months, U.S. and South Korea have held a series of military exercises and the upcoming rise to great concern of all parties.

July 25 -28 days, U.S. and South Korea in the Sea of Japan “indomitable will” joint military exercises at sea, the United States, “George Washington •” aircraft carrier, Asia’s largest landing ship “Dokdo” ships, ships and more than 20 “F -22 “200 fighter aircraft participated in the exercises. U.S. and South Korea more than 8,000 troops into the two sides. This is since 1976, the largest US-ROK military exercise carried out. Japan sent four maritime self-defense, the first officer in the exercise as observers.

August 5 -9 days, South Korea in the West Sea (the Yellow Sea), held a separate land, sea, maritime mobility exercises. It is reported that 4,500 South Korean soldiers participate in the largest ever anti-submarine exercises.

Apart from August 16 -26 will be held on the “guardian of Ulchi free” exercise, the South Korean military official said: “Korea and the U.S. will be in September after the mid-western China Sea (that is, the Yellow Sea) to conduct a joint military exercise . until the end of the year, the Korea-US joint military exercise program once a month. ”

The previous two exercises, the US-ROK exercise between the two countries will aim to point to the DPRK.

In the “indomitable will” exercise before, South Korean Defense Minister Jin Tairong with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates issued a joint statement • This is a “defensive nature of the exercise.” The aim is clear to the DPRK, the DPRK “to cease hostilities,” Korea and the U.S. in the future for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula to enhance joint defense capabilities.

In the beginning of August 5 anti-submarine exercises in South Korea, the ROK side said that this exercise is to demonstrate South Korea’s military strength to deal with “a potential violation of the DPRK.”

North Korea said it would take the most severe military response

15 August, a spokesman for the Korean People’s Army General Staff, issued a statement in Pyongyang for the upcoming Korea-US joint military exercises, the Korean army would take “the most severe military response measures.”

Korean Central News Agency quoted the spokesperson, then the same day reported that, in terms of size, content and nature, the Korea-US joint military exercises are forthcoming for the DPRK’s “full-scale war exercises” and “nuclear war exercises.”

Series of military exercises conducted on the US-ROK, the DPRK has maintained a hard line.

A spokesman for the DPRK National Defense Commission, on July 24 issued a statement, said it would “to a strong nuclear deterrent force” to respond to the US-ROK joint military exercise series.

Korean Central News Agency on July 31 issued a “indictment”, the recent activities of the militants accused the United States, the Korean Peninsula “extremely deteriorated”, is in the “eve of war” status, but also seriously undermine the Northeast Asia peace and stability .

And on August 9 the end of the day South Korean anti-submarine exercise, the western waters of Korea to the “northern boundary” (NLL) fired more than 130 pieces of coastal artillery. South Korea’s navy once into the alert and fight situation, a warning to North Korea broadcast.

Further reading: The United States has frequently participated in military exercises in China’s neighboring

In addition to a number of joint exercises with South Korea, the United States and Vietnam’s first joint exercise also caused a lot of discussion:

From August 11, the United States and Vietnam in the South China Sea held a week-long joint naval exercises, primarily non-combat training, in order to “further promote military exchanges with Vietnam to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the normalization of US-Vietnam relations.” It is reported that the U.S. military, “George • Washington” nuclear-powered aircraft carrier also took part in the exercises.

U.S. officials said the US-Vietnam joint naval exercises, “the U.S. Navy as part of series of outreach activities.” However, the BBC reported that “George Washington •” aircraft carrier and three destroyers involved in the exercise, place it in the South China Sea, indicating that “the U.S. commitment to defend freedom of the South China Sea shipping.” Just recently concluded ASEAN Regional Forum, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Bill Clinton claimed: “freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is related to U.S. national interests.”

Some analysts believe that with “Tian number” events, normalize relations with Vietnam 15 years, the United States to participate in military exercises in China’s neighboring row can be achieved several aims: to consolidate the Korea-US alliance with the ROK-US speech, inhibiting the relocation of U.S. military bases in Japan; with the United States The more exercise to win over Southeast Asia, “spoiler,” South China Sea issue, the formation of “North and South contain” China situation.

Apart from Korea, Vietnam to conduct joint exercises, June 23, the United States and Singapore, Malaysia and other 14 countries together to carry out joint military exercises around the Pacific Rim.

The U.S. “national” magazine that “the United States desire to establish ‘in Asia – Pacific military alliance’ to contain China, the methods and the establishment of NATO after World War II to deter the Soviet Union exactly the same.”

The behavior of the United States, China Society of Military Science, Major General, Deputy Secretary-General Luo Yuan, this shows that they still adhere to the Cold War mentality, pursuing to the jungle rules of the game as the philosophical foundation of the gunboat policy, bullying, to “light muscle” in the form of put pressure on China and ASEAN countries against China stimulation.

However, Luo Yuan pointed out that Americans want to “disturb the South China Sea” is not so easy. China-ASEAN relations have developed well, the two sides to further enhance the degree of dependence. ASEAN will not lose the greater loss of opportunities for mutual benefit with China.

U.S. Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Southeast Asia expert Ouneisituo • Powell also said: “not that many ASEAN countries are the top cow in the elephant, the courage to stand up, take the lead.”

Tags: military exercises, Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea