Tension mounts ahead of US-South Korea drills
Frank Smith
Press TV, Seoul
Hundreds of South Koreans have staged a rally in the capital of Seoul to protest the upcoming military drills with the United States. President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to strengthen the US-South Korea alliance in the face of a record number of missiles launched by North Korea last year. Press TV correspondent, Frank Smith reports from Seoul.
South Koreans opposed the upcoming joint US-South Korean military exercises and took their message to the presidential office. They worry the largest such drills in almost 5 years could lead to direct confrontation.
Last year North Korea test-launched a record number of ballistic missiles with the US and South Korea routinely conducting their own missile tests and smaller military drills.
Large-scale joint US-South Korea military exercises had been suspended by previous President Moon Jae-in, resulting in improvements in inter-Korean relations. But that's not the policy of current President Yoon Suk-yeol, whose hardline approach has seen a strengthening of the alliance with the US, and frequent deployments of US nuclear-capable forces.
The drills are set to include both computer-simulated war games and field exercises. North Korea views the drills as a rehearsal for invasion.
More large-scale drills with the US are planned for this year, as President Yoon seeks to celebrate the 70th anniversary of South Korea's alliance with the United States.
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