US-South Korea drills ramp up amid North Korean nuclear threats

Tensions are mounting on the Korean Peninsula as South Korea and the United States prepare for key annual joint military drills amid increasing nuclear threats from North Korea. The exercises, scheduled for Aug. 19-29, are designed to improve defenses against missile strikes, GPS jamming and cyber threats.

North Korea often perceives these drills as preparations for invasion, which has historically driven Pyongyang to step up its nuclear and missile programs. This year, about 19,000 South Korean troops and an undisclosed number of U.S. forces will participate in the drills to bolster readiness against weapons of mass destruction.