The Voice of America reports that “the annual joint military training exercises being conducted by the United States and South Korea have been accompanied by the expected – reciprocal missile launches from North Korea – and the unexpected – an assault on the U.S. ambassador to South Korea by a radical Korean nationalist. Washington and Seoul say these regularly scheduled drills are necessary to demonstrate military readiness and resolve, but they also increase tensions and the potential for conflict on the Korean peninsula.”  

“The annual exercises mobilize around 10,000 South Korean and 8,000 U.S. troops to conduct land, sea and air maneuvers. They also utilize computer-simulated conflict scenarios that involve responding to attacks and incursions from the North.”