(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Seoul August 18 (QNA) - South Korea and the US on Monday began their annual two-week joint war exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Guardian' (UFG). The computer-aided exercise kicked off for a 12-day run mobilizing some 50000 South Korean forces and 30000 US servicemen including some 3000 from its homeland and other overseas bases reported South Korean news agency (Yonhap). With the training expected to include diverse defense drills to curb North Korea's possible provocations this year will be the first time for the allies to implement their customized deterrence plan against Pyongyang's nuclear threats and weapons of mass destruction according to the South Korean defence ministry. The bilateral strategy drawn up during their defense ministerial meeting last year delineates how they should work together to deter both wartime and peacetime aggression from Pyongyang from saber-rattling to the actual use of force. North Korea expressed rejection to the drill calling that a rehearsal for a nuclear war. "South Korea and the U.S. should take full responsibility for the unexpected situation that is developing on the Korean Peninsula caused by the UFG drill" according to the North's main newspaper the Rodong Sinmun. "Our high-tech ultra-precision rockets are targeting their military force and their bases." In response Seoul's defense ministry expressed deep regret vowing a "merciless counterattack" in case of any provocations. (QNA)
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