U.S. and South Korea Hold Joint Military Drills

July 26: In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Navy and South Korea ships transit the East Sea Monday, July 26, 2010 in a 13-ship formation led by the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Tuscon (SSN 770). South Korea and the United States are conducting joint exercises in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. (AP)

July 27: In this photo released by Korean Navy, crew members of South Korean destroyer Choi Young fires an anti-submarine torpedo during joint military drills in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean naval ships fired artillery and dropped anti-submarine bombs off South Korea's east coast Tuesday, the third day of high-profile military maneuvers intended to warn North Korea against any aggression. (AP)

July 27: In this photo released by Korean Navy, South Korean destroyer Choi Young fires a decoy of the Torpedo Acoustic Counter Measures (TACM) device during a joint military drills in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean naval ships fired artillery and dropped anti-submarine bombs off South Korea's east coast Tuesday, the third day of high-profile military maneuvers intended to warn North Korea against any aggression. (AP)

July 26: In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Tuscon (SSN 770) transits the East Sea, off the Korean peninsula, while leading a 13-ship formation. South Korea and the United States are conducting joint exercises in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. (AP)

July 26: Deck crew members stand on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class USS George Washington during joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: A crew member aboard the Nimitz-class USS George Washington works in the Combat Defense Center during joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: The nosepiece, top, of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909 Air Fueling Squadron of the 18th Wing of the U.S. Air force, based in Japan's Kadena, is connected to a F-16 Fighting Falcon from the U.S. Seventh Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing, based in South Korea's Gunsan, for aerial refueling during a joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S. over the East Sea, east of Seoul, South Korea. (AP)

July 26: EA-6B Prowlers prepares to take off on the flight deck of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS George Washington during joint military drills in South Korea's East Sea. A massive nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier began maneuvers Sunday with ally South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." (AP)

July 25: A U.S. sailor hoists a U.S. flag on board the USS George Washington at the Busan port in Busan, South Korea. The massive nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier began maneuvers Sunday with ally South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." (AP)

July 25: A U.S. Navy helicopter flies over the Nimitz-class USS George Washington for joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, at the Busan port in Busan, south of Seoul, South Korea. The massive nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier began maneuvers Sunday with ally South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." (AP)

July 25: The aircraft carrier USS George Washington departs Busan, South Korea. The nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier led an armada of warships in exercises off the Korean peninsula Sunday that North Korea has vowed to physically block and says could escalate into nuclear war. U.S. military officials said the maneuvers, conducted with South Korean ships and Japanese observers, were intended to send a strong signal to the North that aggression in the region will not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: South Korean naval ships follow the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS George Washington during joint military drills in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: The nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier the USS George Washington leads a South Korean warships during joint military drills on South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: Deck crew members prepare for takeoff of a fighter on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class USS George Washington during joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: A U.S. fighter takes off from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class USS George Washington for joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 26: U.S. F-22 stealth fighters, second and third from left, fly with other fighters over the Nimitz-class USS George Washington during joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea in South Korea's East Sea. U.S. and South Korean warships and helicopters practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula Monday that officers said they hope would serve as a warning to Pyongyang that aggression in the region would not be tolerated. (AP)

July 25: A crew member looks through field glasses on the USS George Washington during joint military drills in South Korea's East Sea. The massive nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier began maneuvers Sunday with ally South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." (AP)

July 24: A South Korean visitor looks at diagrams of a North Korean missiles system on display at Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea. North Korea warned Saturday that joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises poised to begin this weekend amount to a military provocation that will draw a "powerful" nuclear response from Pyongyang.  (AP)

July 25: A South Korean child sits on an U.S. flag during a rally against South Korea and U.S. joint exercise near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The massive nuclear-powered U.S. super carrier began maneuvering Sunday with South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." (AP)

July 25: South Korean protesters hold up their banners during a rally against South Korea and U.S. joint exercise near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea. The massive nuclear-powered U.S. super carrier began maneuvering Sunday with South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war." The letters read "Stop war exercise! and Scrap the South Korea-U.S. alliance!" (AP)