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The United States and South Korea are kicking off three weeks of massive military drills. The move is part of a show of force against North Korea, which has accelerated its own missile launches. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo, who reports from Pocheon, South Korea, near the demilitarized zone.]]
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: South Korea-US Drills TV/RADIO
HEADLINE: US, South Korea Hold Biggest ‘Annihilation’ Drills
TEASER: Exercise is show of force against North Korea, which has increased its own weapons tests
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: William Gallo
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: POCHEON, SOUTH KOREA
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Hirsch, wpm
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: ))
((EDS: This can also work as a radio piece))
[[((INTRO)) The United States and South Korea are kicking off three weeks of massive military drills. The move is part of a show of force against North Korea, which has accelerated its own missile launches. More from VOA’s Bill Gallo, who reports from Pocheon, South Korea, near the demilitarized zone.]]
((VIDEO: Live-fire drills – use any roughcut footage but likely 0:01-1:00))
((NARRATOR))
“Peace through overwhelming strength” – that’s the message from South Korea’s military as its weapons pound a mountainside not far from the border with North Korea.
This is the biggest live-fire exercise the United States and South Korea have ever held, having become much more comfortable showing off their weapons in recent months.
((VIDEO: Gallo standup – in roughcut 3:21))
((Gallo))
“The South Korean military drill is calling this an annihilation drill. They’ve invited dozens of foreign and local media, meaning the audience is both in North and South Korea.”
((VIDEO: Journalists filming, then shots of crowd watching – roughcut 2:21-3:20))
((NARRATOR))
For years, drills like this were held away from the public eye. Now, hundreds of civilians are invited to watch the show.
((VIDEO: More footage of live-fire drills from roughcut 0:01-1:00))
It’s a message of reassurance for South Koreans, says analyst Bong Young-shik.
((VIDEO: Interview with Bong – roughcut timecode 3:47))
((Bong Young-shik, Lecturer, Yonsei University (In English, male) ))
“To provide visual evidence to the eyes of the South Korean public, who have not seen the joint military exercises for the past five years.”
((VIDEO: AFP video of Trump, Kim and Moon meeting at DMZ - V000_1I94U2 - RAW - NKOREA - US - DIPLOMACY - 7/4/2019 – use shot beginning at 1:53))
((NARRATOR))
The drills were scaled back during peace negotiations in 2018.
((VIDEO: AFP video of recent NK launch - V000_33D72LN))
When those talks broke down, North Korea started launching more missiles than ever.
((VIDEO: Biden-Yoon at White House – https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2023%3Anewsml_WD806026042023RP1&share=true))
New leaders in Washington and Seoul have now decided on a tougher approach.
((VIDEO: Interview with Bong – roughcut timecode 4:05))
((Bong Young-shik, Lecturer, Yonsei University (In English, male) ))
“Based upon the disappointing result of the past five years, South Korea and the United States reached the conclusion that only muscles would make [the] North Koreans to think twice.”
((VIDEO: AFP of another North Korean missile launch – V001_32PC82N))
((NARRATOR))
That hasn’t stopped North Korea from building better weapons and issuing more threats.
((VIDEO: Kim Jong Un at military parade - AFP - V000_328Z6JB - 4/26/2022))
Kim recently vowed to launch a spy satellite and may conduct a nuclear test.
((VIDEO: More unused footage from SK-US live-fire drills used in initial scene))
South Korea and the United States say they will also continue their drills, meaning the Korean Peninsula likely will not be quiet anytime soon.
((Bill Gallo. VOA News. Pocheon, South Korea))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 26, 2023 06:05 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
