韩国举行海空实战演习

Dozens of South Korean warships, fighter jets and submarines are taking part in live-fire drills, in what Seoul says is a response to recent military provocations by the North.

South Korea\'s defense ministry said the joint navy and air force drills involved at least 20 vessels and included the firing of anti-ship missiles off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The Tuesday exercises are "aimed at quashing the North\'s intention for provocation at sea," according to defense ministry spokesman Na Seung-Yong.

Seoul officials have expressed concern after North Korea said this month it test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, off its west coast.

The reports of the test could not be confirmed and experts have stressed they believe Pyongyang is still years away from fully developing the technology.

韩国国防部说，将有至少20艘舰船参加演习，包括从朝鲜半岛东海岸发射反舰导弹。

韩国国防部发言人罗承荣说，星期二的海空军演“旨在粉碎朝鲜在海上进行挑衅的图谋”。

朝鲜本月曾表示，在其西海岸试射了一枚潜射弹道导弹，而首尔官员对此表示担忧。

有关朝鲜试射导弹的报道不能得到证实，同时专家们强调指出，他们认为平壤还需要数年时间来完成对这项技术的开发。