#NEWS US, South Korea start major exercise to warn North Korea

(AFP) –

SEOUL — The United States and South Korea Sunday began a major naval exercise designed to deter North Korea, after the communist state warned of "unpredictable consequences" if the drill goes ahead.

The four-day exercise involving a US aircraft carrier began at 8 am (2300 GMT Sunday), Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

It started five days after the North stunned the world by launching a barrage of shells and rockets at a South Korean border island, killing two marines and two civilians.

Washington insists that the drill -- which has been criticised by Beijing -- is defensive in nature and planned long before last week's attack. It says the show of strength is intended to send a message of deterrence to the North.

The 97,000-ton carrier George Washington can carry about 75 aircraft on its 1.8 hectare (4.5 acre) flight deck and has a crew of 5,500 service personnel.

Also taking part in the drill on the US side will be an embarked carrier air wing and vessels the USS Cowpens, Lassen, Stethem and Fitzgerald.

Six South Korean warships, including a 7,600-ton Aegis-class destroyer, two 4,500-ton destroyers and frigates, as well as anti-submarine aircraft were taking part in the exercise, a JSC spokesman said.

He declined to say exactly where in the Yellow Sea the drill is being held.

"If the US brings its carrier to the West Sea of Korea (Yellow Sea) at last, no one can predict the ensuing consequences," the North's official news agency said Saturday.

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