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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 22 augusT 2017

US and South Korean troops start drills amid North Korea standoff

By HYUNG-JIN KIM out its fifth and biggest nu-
Associated Press clear test to date.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Last month North Korea
— U.S. and South Korean test-launched two ICBMs
troops kicked off their an- at highly lofted angles, and
nual drills Monday that outside experts say those
come after President Don- missiles can reach some
ald Trump and North Ko- U.S. parts like Alaska, Los
rea exchanged warlike Angeles or Chicago if fired
rhetoric in the wake of the at normal, flattened trajec-
North’s two intercontinen- tories. Analysts say it would
tal ballistic missile tests last be only a matter of time
month. The Ulchi Freedom for the North to achieve its
Guardian drills are largely long-stated goal of acquir-
computer-simulated war ing a nuclear missile that
games held every summer can strike anywhere in the
and have drawn furious re- United States.
sponses from North Korea, Earlier this month, President
which views them as an Donald Trump pledged
invasion rehearsal. Pyong- to answer North Korean
yang’s state media on Sun- aggression with “fire and
day called this year’s drills a In this March 12, 2016 photo, Marines of the U.S., left, and South Korea wearing blue headbands on fury.” North Korea, for its
their helmets, take positions during joint military exercise in Pohang, South Korea. U.S. and South
“reckless” move that could Korean troops kicked off their annual drills Monday that come after President Donald Trump and part, threatened to launch
trigger the “uncontrollable North Korea exchanged warlike rhetoric in the wake of the North’s two intercontinental ballistic missiles toward the Ameri-
phase of a nuclear war.” missile tests last month. can territory of Guam be-
Despite the threat, U.S. (Kim Jun-bum/Yonhap via AP) fore its leader Kim Jong
and South Korean militar- repeated provocations by weapons tests and a string listic missile that flew about Un backed off saying he
ies launched this year’s North Korea. of belligerent rhetoric. Dur- 500 kilometers (310 miles) would first watch how
11-day training on Mon- North Korea typically re- ing last year’s Ulchi drills, in the longest flight by that Washington acts before
day morning as sched- sponds to South Korea- North Korea test-fired a type of weapon. Days after going ahead with the mis-
uled. The exercise involves U.S. military exercises with submarine-launched bal- the drills, the North carried sile launch plans.q
17,500 American troops
and 50,000 South Korean
soldiers, according to the Abu Sayyaf kills 9, wound 16 in Philippine village
U.S. military command in
South Korea and Seoul’s ZAMBOANGA, Philippines a militiaman. Government Uy said. Regional Gov. Mu- ers have pledged alle-
Defense Ministry. No field (AP) — Abu Sayyaf mili- militiamen were surprised jiv Hataman condemned giance to the Islamic State
training like live-fire exer- tants killed nine people by the dawn attack but the attack, saying the mili- group and were involved
cises or tank maneuvering and wounded 16 others in later managed to put up tants wanted to divert the in a bloody siege in south-
is involved in the Ulchi drills, an early morning attack resistance with extra troops military’s focus from an on- ern Marawi city which has
in which alliance officers sit Monday on a southern Phil- and drive the attackers going offensive by attack- left more than 750 people
at computers to practice ippine village which may away after two hours of ing even children, women dead, mostly militants, and
how they engage in battles have been in retaliation for heavy fighting, the military and the elderly. “They are has dragged on for nearly
and hone their decision- a series of battle setbacks, said. The militants fled and cowards because they three months. President Ro-
making capabilities. The al- officials said. were being pursued by couldn’t face their military drigo Duterte has placed
lies have said the drills are At least 20 Abu Sayyaf mili- government forces. adversaries,” Hataman the southern third of the
defensive in nature. tants opened fire on villag- The Abu Sayyaf “must said. The group has been largely Roman Catholic
South Korea’s President ers and burned five houses have been hit hard by our blacklisted by the United nation under martial law
Moon Jae-in said Monday and a village hall in the operations over the week- States and the Philippines to deal with the Marawi
that North Korea must not attack on Tubigan village end and opted to attack as a terrorist organization crisis and prevent the Abu
use the drills as a pretext in Maluso town on Basilan communities which they for ransom kidnappings, Sayyaf and other extremist
to launch fresh provoca- island, military and police know are not supportive beheadings, bombings groups from staging other
tion, saying the training is officials said. Among the of them,” Basilan military and other violence. Some major attacks elsewhere in
held regularly because of dead were villagers and commander Col. Juvymax Abu Sayyaf command- the volatile region. q