(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean and U.S. militaries launched their biggest joint exercises in years Monday while North Korea said it tested submarine-fired cruise missiles in an apparent protest of the drills it views as an invasion rehearsal. He added the weapons could reach even the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam if a North Korean submarine can operate farther from its shore. Military spokesperson Lee Sung Jun said South Korean assessments didn’t match the launch details North Korea provided but didn’t elaborate. South Korea’s Unification Ministry separately called the launches “very regrettable,” saying North Korea has nothing to gain by raising tensions. In past years, the U.S. and South Korea cancelled or scaled back drills to pursue diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea and out of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 13, 2023 22:17 UTC