Key Resolve/Foal Eagle

Below are 2 articles regarding what Aaron is doing for the next couple weeks.

1.)

North Korea says ready to 'blow up' South Korea, United States

Hyung-Jin Kim / Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea's army said Monday it is ready to "blow up" South Korea and the U.S., hours after the allies kicked off annual military drills that Pyongyang has slammed as a rehearsal for attack.

South Korea and the U.S. -- which normally dismiss such threats as rhetoric -- began 11 days of drills across South Korea on Monday morning to rehearse how the U.S. would deploy in time of emergency on the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. and South Korea argue the drills -- which include live firing by U.S. Marines, aerial attack drills and urban warfare training -- are purely defensive. North Korea claims they amount to attack preparations and has demanded they be canceled.

The North's People's Army issued a statement later Monday, warning the drills created a tense situation and that its troops are "fully ready" to "blow up" the allies once the order is issued.

The North also put all its soldiers and reservists on high alert to "mercilessly crush the aggressors" should they encroach upon the North's territory even slightly, said the statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The communist country has issued similar rhetoric in the days leading up the drills. On Sunday, it said it would bolster its nuclear capability and break off dialogue with the U.S. in response to the drills.

South Korea's military has been closely monitoring Pyongyang's maneuvers but hasn't seen any signs of suspicious activities by North Korean troops, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier Monday.

"We see it as (North Korea's) stereotype denouncement," Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae told reporters.

About 18,000 American soldiers and an undisclosed number of South Korean troops are taking part in the drills, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, according to U.S. and South Korean militaries.

The training comes as the U.S. and other regional powers are pushing for the North to rejoin international disarmament talks on ending its atomic weapons program in return for aid. The North quit the six-nation weapons talks and conducted its second nuclear test last year, drawing tighter U.N. sanctions.

The North has demanded a lifting of the sanctions and peace talks with the U.S. on formally ending the Korean War before it returns to the negotiations. The U.S. and South Korea have responded that the North must first return to the disarmament talks and make progress on denuclearization.

The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Thank you, The Detroit News: 

2.)

Eighth Army participates in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle

Mar 7, 2010

By Walter T. Ham IV, 8th U.S. Army Public Affairs

COMMAND POST OSCAR, South Korea -- Eighth (Field) Army Soldiers are participating from March 8 - 18 in Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2010, the first of two annual peninsula-wide exercises in South Korea.

"KR/FE allows us to train together with our combined and joint partners," said Maj. Gen. Michael J. Schweiger, 8th (Field) Army Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver. "This training keeps us ready to fight tonight."

Schweiger said that 8th (Field) Army will play a prominent role during the exercise that will incorporate the full range of equipment, capabilities and personnel.

"We train like we fight here and KR/FE gives us the opportunity to strengthen our ability to defend the Republic of Korea," said Schweiger. "This exercise is another example of our commitment to this enduring alliance."

A routine exercise, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle takes place about the same time every year.

Article from Global Security.org