19/08/2013 09:57
South Korea and U.S. begin new round of joint military exercises
South Korea and the US have begun a new round of joint military exercises on Monday, officials say, the second round to take place this year, the BBC reports.
Thousands of soldiers are taking part in computer-aided drills designed to test defence capabilities.
South Korea says that North Korea, which was angered by the previous drill, was notified well in advance.
The drills come as the North agreed to family reunions and reached a deal with the South on an industrial zone.
The drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian, are expected to last for 12 days and mobilises about 50,000 members of the South Korean military and 30,000 US servicemen, reports Yonhap news agency.
They are intended to help "ensure stability and security on the peninsula and reaffirm the US commitment to the north-east Asia region", says a statement from the United States Forces Korea.