ABC News: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
SEOUL, South Korea — The South Korean and U.S. militaries were set to begin massive live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the North\u2019s warning that it won\u2019t tolerate what it calls such a hostile invasion rehearsal on its doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thursday\u2019s drills, the first of the allies\u2019 five rounds of firing exercises until mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has typically reacted to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. North Korea has argued its torrid pace of tests was meant to respond to the expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say the North aims to advance its weapons development then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S.-South Korean firing exercises, called \u201cthe combined annihilation firepower drills,\u201d would be the biggest of their kind. The drills have been held 11 times since they began in 1977, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ministry officials said this year\u2019s drills are to involve advanced stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, multiple rocket launch systems and other weapons from South Korea and the United States. It wasn’t immediately known how many troops would take part in the drills, but previous exercises in 2017 drew about 2,000 soldiers and 250 weapons assets from both countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An earlier Defense Ministry statement said the drills are meant to enhance the allies\u2019 combined operational performance capabilities. It said South Korea and the United States will seek to establish \u201cthe overwhelming deterrence and response capabilities\u201d to cope with North Korean nuclear and missile threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Friday, North Korea\u2019s state media called the drills \u201ca typical North Korea-targeted war rehearsal.\u201d It said North Korea \u201ccannot but take a more serious note of the fact that\u201d that the drills would be held in an area a few kilometers (miles) from its frontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KCNA said the U.S. and South Korea will face unspecified \u201ccorresponding responses\u201d over their series of large-scale, provocative drills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this year, the South Korean and U.S. militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in five years. The U.S. also sent the nuclear-powered USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and nuclear-capable bombers for joint exercises with South Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n