South Korean and American troops began naval exercises on Monday off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, according to BBC.com
The drills come after North Korea said it was planning to carry out its third test of a nuclear device, thus rising nuclear tensions within the region.
The North Korea has criticised the drills as “war-mongering”.
These exercises involve live fire, naval manoeuvres and submarine detection drills.
The presence of the nuclear-powered submarine USS San Francisco in the region “would itself serve as a message to North Korea”, reports BBC.com citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jung Seung-Jo.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 5, 2013