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South Korea conducts anti-sub drills

U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea ships transit the East Sea Monday, July 26, 2010 in a 13-ship formation. The Republic of Korea and the United States are conducting the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise "Invincible Spirit" in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. This is the first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months in the East and West Seas. UPI/Adam K. Thomas/US Navy
U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea ships transit the East Sea Monday, July 26, 2010 in a 13-ship formation. The Republic of Korea and the United States are conducting the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise "Invincible Spirit" in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. This is the first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months in the East and West Seas. UPI/Adam K. Thomas/US Navy | License Photo

SEOUL, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- South Korea began antisubmarine drills near its western sea border with North Korea where a South Korean warship was sunk in an attack blamed on Pyongyang.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the five days of drills that began Thursday involve about 4,500 troops from all four military branches, the Dokdo amphibious landing ship, a submarine and a KDX-II class destroyer, plus about 50 fighter jets, the Yonhap news agency reported.

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Exercises will include antisubmarine battles and drills against intrusions by North Korean special forces, the Joint Chiefs said.

The latest round of exercises is South Korea's second in less than two weeks following joint maneuvers by U.S. and South Korean naval and air force personnel in the East Sea late last month. The joint drills were meant to deter North Korea from further provocations and to demonstrate solidarity of the U.S.-South Korea military alliance, U.S. and South Korean military leaders said.

South Korea, the United States and their allies said they believe North Korea torpedoed the Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. The North has denied any role in the sinking, calling the accusations "sheer fabrication" and threatened to retaliate against the drills.

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North Korea renewed its threat Thursday when its Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland warned of "the most powerful means" of retaliation if South Korea instigated a conflict during the latest exercises, Yonhap said. North Korea's military command overseeing the Yellow Sea border said earlier it would "return fire for fire" in its "powerful physical retaliation."

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