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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 on Sunday in the face of opposition by regional giant China and threats of "consequences" from North Korea.

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 their disputed maritime boundary in the worst assault since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

The nuclear-powered carrier USS George Washington, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of over 6,000, has joined the exercises and will be accompanied by at least four other U.S. warships, an official from U.S. Forces Korea (USKF) told Reuters.

South Korea has deployed three destroyers, frigates and anti-submarine aircraft, Yonhap news agency reported, adding the exercises were being held far south of the disputed area where the artillery firing took place on Tuesday.

"The drills have started and of course the carrier joined the exercises. But I cannot give any further details," said the USKF official, asking not to be identified.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has told ministers and aides to be ready for further "provocation" by North Korea during the military show of force.

"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.

South Korea's marine commander on Saturday vowed "thousand-fold" revenge for the North Korean attack that killed two servicemen and two civilians and prompted an unusual expression of regret from Pyongyang.

North Korea, not known for agonizing over policy decisions, said if there were civilian deaths, they were "very regrettable," but that South Korea should be blamed for using a human shield.

It also said the United States should be blamed for "orchestrating" the whole sequence of events to justify sending an aircraft carrier to join the maritime maneuvers.

Defense MINISTER REPLACED

Dozens of houses were destroyed in the attack, which followed South Korean test firing near disputed waters. South Korea responded with artillery fire 13 minutes later, but it was not clear what damage was caused.

Seoul replaced its defense minister following criticism that it was slow to respond, but several anti-North Korea protests have been held in the capital, demanding revenge.

"It's time for action. Time for retaliation. Let's strike the presidential palace in Pyongyang," shouted close to 1,000 marine veterans in downtown Seoul on Saturday, who burned photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his anointed successor, his son Kim Jong-un.

Veterans of an underwater sabotage team protested against North Korea and accused the government of disregarding their sacrifices on spy missions. Scuffles broke out and police used fire extinguishers to break up the crowd.

Regional giant China -- under pressure from other powers tacts nearn North Korea -- has said it is determined to prevent an escalation of the violence. But it warned against military acts near its coast as U.S. and South Korean forces, referring to the U.S.-South Korea exercises in the Yellow Sea.

China has sent senior officials including its top diplomat, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, to Seoul for unscheduled meetings, both sides said. Dai met South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Dung-hwan on Saturday and will hold talks with President Lee on Sunday.

North Korea has issued several bellicose warnings against the exercises.

"If the U.S. brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea at last, no one can predict the ensuing consequences," the state-owned KCNA news agency said.

A North Korean website (http://www.uriminzokkiri) operated by the government propaganda agency said the war drills were "another unforgivable military provocation."

"(The North) will make the stronghold of the enemy a sheet of flames if they violate its territory even by 0.01 mm."

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."

(Additional reporting by Chris Buckley in BEIJING)

(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)