U.S., South Korea schedule more war drills

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- South Korean and U.S. forces will hold another joint drill as a show of force against North Korea, officials said, as North Korea again threatened retaliation.

Anti-submarine warfare exercises in the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula's west coast, to be held Sunday to Thursday, are in response to the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship by North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

The exercises "are designed to send a clear message of deterrence to North Korea, while improving overall allies' anti-submarine warfare capabilities," U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement.

The five-day drills will involve about 20 U.S. and South Korean vessels including two U.S. guided-missile destroyers, USS Curtis Wilbur and USS Fitzgerald, as well as a fast-attack U.S. submarine.

North Korea, which denies involvement in the sinking, has repeatedly warned South Korea and the United States it will retaliate against the drills.

"Our army and people will sternly respond to the joint exercises with a merciless blow if the warmongers go ahead with the reckless provocation," the North said in a statement posted on a state-run Web site.