South Korea, US wrap up annual military drills, stage joint river-crossing
The militaries of the two countries reaffirmed their alliance and strengthened their defensive posture during the drills, U.S. Forces Korea and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The river-crossing exercise, which was held in Yeoncheon, an area near the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, involved some 600 troops, as well as 100 armoured vehicles and aircraft, according to South Korea's defence ministry.
"This training provided an opportunity for the brigade soldiers to experience the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance and maximize the interoperability of river-crossing equipment," Major Jung Byung-hyuk of the South Korean army said after the river-crossing exercise.
ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
South Korean and U.S troops had built a 180-metre (196.85 yards) floating bridge in order to allow armoured vehicles to cross a river, according to the ministry.
"Regardless of politics, when asked the soldiers in these formations both U.S. and ROK are standing side by side ready to support the U.S.-ROK alliance," Lieutenant Colonel Brent Kinney of the U.S. Army said when asked about the current political situation in South Korea.
South Korea has been suffering its worst political crisis in decades after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposed martial law in December. The Constitutional Court is due to rule on whether to uphold his impeachment by parliament in coming days.
Pyongyang has long demanded a halt to U.S.-South Korea joint exercises, branding them a prelude to an invasion.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles earlier this month, hours after condemning the South Korean and U.S. militaries for launching the drills that the North called a "dangerous provocative act."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLIDAYMAKERS have been ordered to leave a country park boasting one of Scotland's best beaches as police prepared for Donald Trump's visit to his nearby golf course. Visitors were told to vacate the beauty spot as security is beefed up ahead of US president's trip to his neighbouring Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire tomorrow. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 President Trump will travel to his Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire after visiting his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire Credit: REUTERS/Phil Noble 4 Visitors to the award-winning Balmedie beach in Aberdeenshire have been ordered out Credit: Iain Masterton/Alamy Live News 4 Holidaymakers were forced to go to make way for a massive security operation Credit: Iain Masterton/Alamy Live News 4 Police are patrolling the beach with borders the US president's Menie Estate Credit: Iain Masterton/Alamy Live News Officers locked down Balmedie Country Park and its coastal stretch — which has won 20 awards for the quality of its sand and water. Locals have vowed to protest after the Scottish Government announced a tournament held at his Trump International resort is being given £180,000 of taxpayers' cash. An onlooker said: 'Police were shutting off the beach and the park. 'It's one of the country's best and we're in the middle of the school holidays. 'Trump doesn't own it so it feels ridiculous that people who live here are being told to leave. "Loads of people were told to go. 'Is it any wonder most people around here hate him so much?' Balmedie Country Park has miles of sandy beaches and dunes and is popular all year with tourists and locals. Only a flimsy waist-high wooden fence separates it from the US president's 1,400 acres of land. Police had warned roads and the park would be shut in advance while a massive security operation gets underway ahead of Mr Trump's arrival. British Army soldiers, snipers, US Secret Service agents and cops were spotted in huge numbers over the weekend as he visited his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire with similar scenes expected. US and EU agree landmark trade deal after months of talks, Donald Trump says The Republican chief will open a new 18-hole course there named after his late Scottish mum Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis. Neighbours have vowed to protest the plans and the announcement that public cash will be handed over for the Nexo Championship being held at the resort next month. Activist Alena Ivanova, organiser of Stop Trump Scotland, says the demo will be a "festival of resistance". She added: 'This message is to Donald Trump but also our elected leaders preparing to meet him — there is no place for Trumpism in Scotland. 'In the vicinity of the golf course people will be making noise and using creative props to bring the message as close to home as possible that Donald Trump is not welcome here.' Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said: 'A policing plan is in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimise disruption. 'We are working with transport planning partners, including local authorities, on temporary road closures. 'We understand a visit of this scale and the significant policing operation required can cause some disruption, and we are thankful to communities for their patience and understanding.' We told how a protester was arrested and given a recorded police warning on Friday for "abusive behaviour and refusing to stop" at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire where the American leader's Air Force One jet landed. Trump today met with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at his nearby Turnberry golf course where they they agreed fresh trade terms. He set US tariffs on goods at 15 percent and announcedthe EU will spend nearly £500billion in American investments and buy more than £100bn in energy and purchase military equipment. Mr Trump called it a "good deal for everybody" while Ms von der Leyen called it "huge" and revealed there had been "tough negotiations". He will also meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney before the end of his five-day trip.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
EU's von der Leyen: 15% the 'best we could get'
PRESTWICK, Scotland, July 27 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the trade deal clinched with United States on Sunday as "the best we could get" and not to be underestimated given the looming threat of 30% tariffs that had been hanging over the EU. A baseline tariff rate of 15% on EU goods imported into the United States would apply to most goods including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceutical goods, von der Leyen said. Meanwhile, a zero-for-zero tariff rate had been agreed for certain strategic products, including aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, and certain generic drugs. No decision had been taken on a rate for wine and spirits, she added. Asked if she considered 15% a good deal for European carmakers, von der Leyen told reporters: "15% is not to be underestimated, but it is the best we could get." The European Union committed to purchasing $750 billion worth U.S. LNG and nuclear fuel over three years. "We still have too much Russian LNG that is coming through the back door," she said. The European Commission has proposed phasing out all Russian gas imports by Jan 1, 2028. "Today's deal creates certainty in uncertain times, delivers stability and predictability," von der Leyen told reporters before leaving Scotland.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Key elements of EU-U.S. trade deal agreed on Sunday
BRUSSELS, July 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. and the European Union agreed on a framework trade deal on Sunday, ending months of uncertainty for industry and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Here are the main elements of the deal: * Almost all EU goods entering the U.S. will be subject to a 15% baseline tariff, including cars, which now face 27.5%, as well as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. The 15% tariff is the maximum tariff and is not added to any existing rates. * However, the U.S. is to announce the result of its 232 trade investigations in two weeks and decide separately on tariff rates for chips and pharmaceuticals. Whatever U.S. decisions come later on these sectors will be "on a different sheet of paper", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. * The U.S. and EU will have zero-for-zero tariffs on all aircraft and their components, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials. More products would be added. The situation for spirits is still to be established. * Tariffs on European steel and aluminium will stay at 50%, but von der Leyen said these would later be cut and replaced by a quota system. * The EU pledged to buy $250 billion of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year for three years, totalling $750 billion in total, as it replaces Russian gas. The EU will also buy nuclear fuel from the U.S. * Under the deal, the EU pledged to buy U.S. military equipment and European companies are to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the course of Trump's second term.
