US-South Korea War Games Set To Begin

South Korean Army K1A1 and U.S. Army M1A2 tanks fire live rounds during a U.S.-South Korea joint live-fire military exercise, at a training field, near the demilitarized zone, separating the two Koreas in Pocheon, South Korea April 21, 2017.

FOX News: All eyes on North Korea as US-South Korea war games set to begin

HAGATNA, Guam – There are two things North Korea doesn’t like. The B1 bomber, a backbone of the U.S. Air Force, and a biannual U.S.-South Korea military exercise known as Ulchi-Freedom Guardian.

That drill begins Sunday while a new contingent of bombers just arrived in Guam. North Korea sees both as a provocation.

While the U.S. has not backed away from either, both China and South Korea now say armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula is uncalled for.

"I will prevent war at all cost," South Korean President Moon Jae-in told reporters Thursday, which marked his first 100 days in office. "So I want all South Koreans to believe with confidence that there will be no war.”

Moon said he would consider sending a special envoy north but Kim Jong Un must first stop trying to arm his missiles with nuclear warheads. He also said, for the first time, that U.S. has agreed to consult with Seoul before taking any action against North Korea.

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Update #1: Joint exercises could send Korea tensions soaring again (AFP)
Update #2: US Says Joint South Korea War Games Not on Negotiating Table (VOA)

WNU Editor: This is interesting .... 'Ready to fight': Inside the American base that could lead a strike on North Korea (ABC News Online).

Update #3: U.S., Japan step up defense cooperation to counter N.Korea (Reuters).