This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26284618
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| South Korea-US military drills begin | South Korea-US military drills begin |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Joint military drills between South Korea and the US have begun, amid rare family reunions between North and South Korean relatives separated for decades. | Joint military drills between South Korea and the US have begun, amid rare family reunions between North and South Korean relatives separated for decades. |
| The annual military exercises will last until 18 April. | |
| They will involve Key Resolve, a computer-based simulation, and Foal Eagle, which involves air, ground and naval drills. | They will involve Key Resolve, a computer-based simulation, and Foal Eagle, which involves air, ground and naval drills. |
| Pyongyang is opposed to the drills and had previously threatened to cancel the reunions if the exercises went ahead. | Pyongyang is opposed to the drills and had previously threatened to cancel the reunions if the exercises went ahead. |
| The military drills will involve more than 12,500 US troops. | The military drills will involve more than 12,500 US troops. |
| The US and South Korea describe the annual drills as defensive in nature, but Pyongyang has described them as "exercises of war". | The US and South Korea describe the annual drills as defensive in nature, but Pyongyang has described them as "exercises of war". |
| Last year, the exercises led to a prolonged surge in tensions, with North Korea threatening pre-emptive nuclear strikes and attacks on South Korean and US targets. | Last year, the exercises led to a prolonged surge in tensions, with North Korea threatening pre-emptive nuclear strikes and attacks on South Korean and US targets. |
| Speaking on Monday, South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said: "As of now, there are no unusual movements from North Korea. We will only take action against North Korea if it makes provocations or denunciations". | Speaking on Monday, South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said: "As of now, there are no unusual movements from North Korea. We will only take action against North Korea if it makes provocations or denunciations". |
| Also on Monday, around 360 South Koreans met their North Korean relatives for the first time since the 1950-1953 Korean War, at a family reunion event in North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort. | Also on Monday, around 360 South Koreans met their North Korean relatives for the first time since the 1950-1953 Korean War, at a family reunion event in North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort. |
| They were the second set of relatives chosen to attend the reunions, which come amid an apparent thaw in inter-Korean ties. | They were the second set of relatives chosen to attend the reunions, which come amid an apparent thaw in inter-Korean ties. |
| Many people were separated from their relatives by the division of the Korean peninsula after the Korean War. | Many people were separated from their relatives by the division of the Korean peninsula after the Korean War. |
| Pyongyang has been accused of using the family reunions, which are highly emotional events, as a bargaining chip. | Pyongyang has been accused of using the family reunions, which are highly emotional events, as a bargaining chip. |
| North Korea has in the past cancelled the reunions after the South took actions it opposed - most recently in September. | North Korea has in the past cancelled the reunions after the South took actions it opposed - most recently in September. |
| In 2010, the programme was suspended after the North's shelling of a South Korean border island. | In 2010, the programme was suspended after the North's shelling of a South Korean border island. |