The U.S. began the Ulchi Freedom Guardian annual joint military drills with South Korea.
The drills consist of computer-simulated war games that involve 30,000 U.S. troops and 50,000 South Korean troops.
In the past, North Korean officials have called U.S.-South Korean drills warlike and a rehearsal for an invasion. North Korea, however, has reacted to these drills with a much milder response.
Cheong Seong-Chang, analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said, “North Korea appears to have determined it’s necessary to take a cool-headed attitude [in regards to the drills].”
The Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills will continue until August 30.
Read more at ABC News.