SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States will conduct joint military exercises in waters south of the sea border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Seoul's military said Monday.
The South Korean Navy's spokesman told a regular press briefing of the defense ministry that the maritime drill will be staged in waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL).
The DPRK has never acknowledged the NLL as an inter-Korean sea border as it was unilaterally drawn by the U.S.-led allied forces during the 1950-53 Korean War.
The Navy spokesman said the joint drill was aimed to enhance the allied defense capability and prepare for possible DPRK provocations near the inter-Korean border.
The joint drill will be conducted from Monday to Friday in the eastern and western waters of South Korea, mobilizing the U.S. nuclear-powered Ronald Regan aircraft carrier and its accompanying battleships including Aegis destroyers and guided missile cruisers.
The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan, arrived at Busan, South Korea's southeastern port city, on Friday.
The deployment of U.S. strategic military assets to South Korea came amid the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the DPRK's sixth nuclear test in September.
