North Korea readies missiles as U.S., South Korea begin drill

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North Korea readies missiles as U.S., South Korea begin drill

By Cheon Jong-woo and Raju Gopalakrishnan Cheon Jong-woo And Raju Gopalakrishnan

– 37 mins ago

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea has placed surface-to-surface missiles on launch

pads in the Yellow Sea, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, as the United

States and South Korea began joint military exercises.

The agency said also that Pyongyang had moved surface-to-air missiles to

frontline areas. The North's official KCNA news agency warned of retaliatory

action if its territory was violated.

" We will deliver a brutal military blow on any provocation which violates our

territorial waters, " KCNA said.

The exercises, in waters far south of the disputed maritime boundary, are being

held in the face of opposition by regional giant China and threats of

" consequences " from North Korea.

Washington says they are intended as a sign of deterrence to North Korea. They

come less than a week after the North shelled a South Korean island near their

disputed boundary in the worst assault since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Officials and journalists on Yeonpyeong island were evacuated to bunkers on

Sunday, a Reuters witness said. " They ordered people here to move to shelters

saying there is an emergency situation, " the witness said, adding there were no

details available.

The nuclear-powered carrier USS Washington, which carries 75 warplanes

and has a crew of over 6,000, has joined the exercises and will be accompanied

by at least four other U.S. warships, an official from U.S. Forces Korea (USKF)

told Reuters.

South Korea has deployed three destroyers, frigates and anti-submarine aircraft,

Yonhap news agency reported, adding the exercises were being held far south of

the disputed area where the artillery firing took place on Tuesday.

" The drills have started and of course the carrier joined the exercises. But I

cannot give any further details, " said the USKF official, asking not to be

identified.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has told ministers and aides to be ready

for further " provocation " by North Korea during the military show of force.

" There is the possibility that North Korea may do some unexpected action, so

please perfectly prepare against it through cooperation with the Korea-U.S.

joint force, " Lee was quoted by a spokesman as saying.

South Korea's marine commander on Saturday vowed " thousand-fold " revenge for the

North Korean attack that killed two servicemen and two civilians and prompted an

unusual expression of regret from Pyongyang.

North Korea, not known for agonizing over policy decisions, said if there were

civilian deaths, they were " very regrettable, " but that South Korea should be

blamed for using a human shield.

It also said the United States should be blamed for " orchestrating " the whole

sequence of events to justify sending an aircraft carrier to join the maritime

maneuvers.

DEFENSE MINISTER REPLACED

Dozens of houses were destroyed in the attack, which followed South Korean test

firing near disputed waters. South Korea responded with artillery fire 13

minutes later, but it was not clear what damage was caused.

Seoul replaced its defense minister following criticism that it was slow to

respond, but several anti-North Korea protests have been held in the capital,

demanding revenge.

" It's time for action. Time for retaliation. Let's strike the presidential

palace in Pyongyang, " shouted close to 1,000 marine veterans in downtown Seoul

on Saturday, who burned photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his

anointed successor, his son Kim Jong-un.

Veterans of an underwater sabotage team protested against North Korea and

accused the government of disregarding their sacrifices on spy missions.

Scuffles broke out and police used fire extinguishers to break up the crowd.

Regional giant China -- under pressure from other powers to act on North Korea

-- has said it is determined to prevent an escalation of the violence. But it

warned against military acts near its coast as U.S. and South Korean forces,

referring to the U.S.-South Korea exercises in the Yellow Sea.

China has sent senior officials including its top diplomat, State Councilor Dai

Bingguo, to Seoul for unscheduled meetings, both sides said. Dai met South

Korean Foreign Minister Kim Dung-hwan on Saturday and will hold talks with

President Lee on Sunday.

North Korea has issued several bellicose warnings against the exercises.

" If the U.S. brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea at last, no one can

predict the ensuing consequences, " the state-owned KCNA news agency said.

A North Korean website (http://www.uriminzokkiri) operated by the government

propaganda agency said the war drills were " another unforgivable military

provocation. "

" (The North) will make the stronghold of the enemy a sheet of flames if they

violate its territory even by 0.01 mm. "

The U.S. military said the exercises, planned long before Tuesday's attack, were

designed to deter North Korea and were not aimed at China.

" We've routinely operated in waters off the Korean peninsula for years, " said

Captain Darryn , a Pentagon spokesman. " These latest provocations have been

by the North and they need to take ownership of those, not us. "

(Additional reporting by Buckley in BEIJING)

(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)