U.S., South Korea to launch maritime exercises

SEOUL, March 21 (UPI) -- United States and South Korea forces are to kick off a large-scale maritime exercise that simulates a response to a North Korea attack at sea.

The exercise is to take place March 22-25 in the waters around the peninsula, and is to include the deployment of 50 surface combatants, submarines, armed forces and aircraft, South Korean news service Newsis reported Tuesday, local time.

The drill is part of the joint exercise Foal Eagle that is expected to be ongoing until the end of April.

On Monday Foal Eagle exercises included naval maneuvers for the USS Mobile Bay, the South Korean navy ship Chungnam, and the Jeonbuk, an Incheon-class frigate.

Both navies are to carry out South Korea's Maritime Counter Special Operation Force training – an exercise in destroying enemy special operations forces, and covering forces that try to land on South Korean beaches. Other training would test the interoperability of U.S.-South Korea maneuvers during anti-submarine warfare, and other attack scenarios.

The USS John C. Stennis, a nuclear aircraft carrier, is to take part in the exercises, South Korean television network KBS reported.

The exercises are taking place less than a day after North Korea fired five short-range projectiles into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan on Monday.

The projectiles were fired from the North Korean city of Hamhung, in South Hamgyong Province, located about 170 miles from Seoul, the South Korean capital.