The USS Nimitz nuclear-powered aircraft carrier leaves South Korea\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s southern port city of Busan on the first day of the joint naval exercise conducted by the United States and South Korea, May 13, 2013.<\/p>\n
The United States and South Korea have launched a two-day naval exercise in the waters around the Korean Peninsula amid regional tensions.\n<\/p>\n
The military exercise began on Monday at South Korea\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s southern port city of Busan.\n<\/p>\n
The US Navy said in a statement that the naval forces of the two countries would take part in \u00c5\u201cintegrated flight operations, air defense events, surface warfare training events, precision ship maneuvers, and liaison officer exchanges.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The statement added that the drill included the 97,000-ton USS Nimitz nuclear-powered aircraft carrier along with a number of other warships, guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer.\n<\/p>\n
There has been a cycle of escalating military rhetoric on the Korean Peninsula over the past few months.\n<\/p>\n
The previous joint military exercises conducted by South Korea and the US ended on April 30. The participation of nuclear-capable US B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers in the drills added to the tensions between the United States along with its regional allies and North Korea.\n<\/p>\n
On May 11, North Korea censured the arrival of Nimitz in South Korea for the military exercise and said the move was a \u00c5\u201cgrave military provocation, which would further worsen the situation.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The North Korean Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea stated that the joint naval drill \u00c5\u201cinvolving the latest weaponry including the nuclear aircraft carrier is a wanton blackmail against us and demonstrates\u2026 that their attempt to invade us has reached an extremely reckless level.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u00c5\u201cThe risk of a nuclear war in the peninsula has risen further due to the madcap nuclear war practice by the US and the South\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s enemy forces,\u201d the committee added. <\/p>\n
Last week, North Korea warned against any provocation during the joint maneuver, saying that Pyongyang was ready to counterstrike if a \u00c5\u201csingle shell\u201d drops across the disputed Yellow Sea maritime border.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cIn case the enemies recklessly counter our counterstrikes, all striking forces will turn the (South\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s) five islands\u2026 into a sea of flames,\u201d Pyongyang said in a statement on May 7.\n<\/p>\n
DB\/HSN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n