S.Korea, US begin naval manoeuvres

Seoul Oct 16 (IANS) South Korea and the US on Monday began large-scale joint naval manoeuvers in waters off the Korean peninsula amid the heightened tensions with Pyongyang.

The military exercises will take place in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. It will conclude on Friday a defence spokesperson told Efe news.

Among the US assets joining the drills are the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers the USS Stethem and the USS Mustin.

On the South Korean side the Sejong Great-class destroyers F-15k fighter aircraft FA-18 and A-10 or P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft participate.

In addition the Pentagon also deployed an aircraft from the joint surveillance and target attack radar system (JSTARS) to monitor North Korean maritime and ground troops potential movements.

The naval drills comes ahead of Trump s visit to South Korea next month.

--IANS
ksk