U.S., S.Korean troops stage river-crossing drills

South Korean and American troops practiced building floating bridges to ferry tanks and other armoured vehicles across rivers on Wednesday, part of a larger joint military exercise that has angered North Korea.
South Korean attack helicopters deployed flares and armoured vehicles blew white smoke screens into the air as main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and other military vehicles crossed pontoon bridges over the Namhan River near Yeoju, south of Seoul.
The drill involved armoured “attacking” forces of the South Korean army’s 11th Mobile Division, which is participating in the 12-day Hoguk 22 field exercises, crossing bridges established by South Korean and U.S. engineering units.
North Korea has condemned the drills for raising tensions and has test-fired rockets and artillery in response. South Korea and the United States say the drills are defensive, and necessary for deterring the North.
About 1,000 South Korean and U.S. troops participated on Wednesday, with about 50 tanks and other armoured vehicles, KF-16 fighter jets, Apache and Cobra attack helicopters, and more than 140 pieces of engineering equipment such as floating bridge units, according to South Korea’s defence ministry.