US, Allies Conduct ‘Full Spectrum' Amphibious Exercise Along S Korean Coast

The armed forces of the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea are conducting joint amphibious operations "Ssang Yong 2016" along the South Korean coastal city of Pohang, the US Navy announced in a statement on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The exercise was organized as the United States expressed great concern over North Korea’s recent threats it would ready its nuclear weapons. North Korea issued the threat after the UN Security Council unanimously decided to extend sanctions against Pyongyang.

"Being able to use seas to maneuver, being able to provide presence, being able to ensure some form of stability through our operations is what we train to do and what we're prepared to do and demonstrate in Ssang Yong 2016," US Marines Colonel Anthony Henderson stated.

Colonel Henderson explained that during the drills, the forces will jointly "penetrate notional enemy beach defenses," transition forces and conduct combined arms forcible entry operation.

Moreover, will they "aggregate elements" of other units, including the South Korean navy, to practice full-scale amphibious operations.

"[I]t gives us an opportunity to demonstrate how we conduct full spectrum operations," he added.

The Ssang Yong 2016 exercise started on Tuesday and are scheduled to run until March 18. Nearly 20,000 personnel participate in the military exercise, of which more than half are US Marines and Navy sailors.