S. Korea, U.S. hold massive live-fire drill
2012-06-22 06:00:05 GMT2012-06-22 14:00:05(Beijing Time)
Xinhua English
Smoke rise after bombing during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
A military helicopter is seen during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
A military helicopter is seen during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula.(Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Armored vehicles are seen during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
A tank is seen during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
Fighter planes are seen during a media day of the live-fire drill in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, June 19, 2012. South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
SEOUL, June 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States staged their largest-ever live-fire drill on Friday amid lingering tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The one-day exercise in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, involved fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, armored vehicles and some 2,000 troops.
South Korea's defense ministry said in a statement that the drill was aimed at checking solid military preparedness and war- fighting capabilities against enemy provocation.
The joint drill, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, saw the participation of an airborne early warning and control aircraft called "Peace Eye" and T/A-50 light attack aircraft for the first time.
The drill came amid persistent tensions on the peninsula, following a failed long-range rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in April.
