South Korea and US kick off annual exercise with 70,000 troops

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World Bulletin
US, South Korea begin military drill as North reacts

South Korea and the U.S. began a massive annual military exercise Monday, ignoring repeated threats by rival North Korea.

The drill, called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, will include 70,000 troops from the U.S. and South Korea.

North Korea routinely condemns such activities as invasion preparations, and recently cautioned of a “catastrophe” if the allies were to go ahead with this month’s exercise.

According to a press statement from Seoul’s Defense Ministry, the drill is a “computer simulated defensive exercise designed to enhance readiness, protect the…