U.S., South Korea begin joint military exercises

SEOUL, (Reuters) – The United States and South Korea  began joint military exercises in waters west of the Korean  Peninsula today that have been opposed by regional giant  China and have led to North Korea threatening “consequences”.
The exercises, which Washington says are intended as a sign  of deterrence to North Korea, come less than a week after the  North shelled a South Korean island near the disputed maritime  boundary and killed four people.
An official from U.S. Forces Korea told Reuters the  nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington had  joined the four-day exercises.
The George Washington, which carries 75 warplanes and has a  crew of more than 6,000, will be accompanied by at least four  other warships.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told ministers and  aides to be ready for further “provocation” by North Korea  during the drill.
“There is the possibility that North Korea may do some  unexpected action, so please perfectly prepare against it  through cooperation with the Korea-U.S. joint force,” Lee was  quoted by a spokesman as saying.
North Korea’s KCNA news agency said on Saturday: “If the  U.S. brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea at last, no one  can predict the ensuing consequences.”
China has said it was determined to prevent an escalation of  the violence in the Koreas and warned against military acts near  its coast.
South Korea said China had sent senior officials including  State Councillor Dai Bingguo to Seoul for a meeting on Sunday  with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan.
The U.S. military said the exercises, planned long before  Tuesday’s attack, were designed to deter North Korea and were  not aimed at China.
“We’ve routinely operated in waters off the Korean peninsula  for years,” said Captain Darryn James, a Pentagon spokesman.  “These latest provocations have been by the North and they need  to take ownership of those, not us.”