U.S. and South Korean forces held a landing drill Monday near the port city of Pohang, as part of the annual Foal Eagle military exercise.
"In the event of a crisis, probably the Korean military as well as the United States military, will be involved in... obviously meeting whatever the threat is, as well as keeping the people of Korea safe, doing our best to provide protection and again, just to meet the crisis," said Justin Whitaker, 1st Lieutenant U.S. Marine Corps, based in Okinawa, Japan.
South Korean military officials said the drill mobilized about 7,600 navy and marine personnel and 30 naval vessels, as well as several landing craft.
Earlier this month, North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast, hours before the joint military exercises began.
North Korea regularly protests the joint drills, which it calls a rehearsal for invasion.
Foal Eagle runs through April 24.
