U.S., South Korea begin joint military exercises

November 28, 2010

– 1 hr 30 mins ago

SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States and South Korea began joint military

exercises in waters west of the Korean Peninsula Sunday that have been opposed

by regional giant China and have led to North Korea threatening " consequences. "

The exercises, which Washington says are intended as a sign of deterrence to

North Korea, come less than a week after the North shelled a South Korean island

near the disputed maritime boundary and killed four people.

An official from U.S. Forces Korea told Reuters the nuclear-powered aircraft

carrier USS Washington had joined the four-day exercises.

The Washington, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of more than

6,000, will be accompanied by at least four other warships.

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

further " provocation " by North Korea during the drill.

" 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.

North Korea's KCNA news agency said on Saturday: " If the U.S. brings its carrier

to the West Sea of Korea at last, no one can predict the ensuing consequences. "

China has said it was determined to prevent an escalation of the violence in the

Koreas and warned against military acts near its coast.

South Korea said China had sent senior officials including State Councilor Dai

Bingguo to Seoul for a meeting Sunday with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim

Sung-hwan.

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. "

(Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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