S. Korea, U.S. conduct joint military exercise aimed at developing logistics

Soldiers participate in the Combined Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore Operations (CJLOTS) during the joint military exercise Foal Eagle 2011 between South Korea and the United States at Anmyeondo beach in Chungcheong province of South Korea on March 23, 2011. South Korea and the United States started the month-long joint military exercise, "Foal Eagle", on Feb. 28. (Xinhua/Park Jin Hee)

ANMYEON ISLAND, South Korea, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States on Wednesday carried out a joint military exercise aimed at developing the capabilities of both forces to transport munitions without fixed port facilities.

The exercise, named "Combined Joint Logistics Over the Shore," was conducted on Anmyeon Island off the west coast of South Korea, with the participation of some 440 soldiers from the two sides. Besides military vessels, 16 civilian ships also took part in the exercise.

Designed to enhance the capabilities of both U.S. and South Korean forces to safely and efficiently transfer fuel and supplies that arrive by ship and smaller landing craft to forces inland, the exercise was the first held off the west coast of South Korea, where the difference between the ebb and flow of tides is great.

During the exercise, soldiers demonstrated their capabilities for delivering military equipment on a bare beach with no port facilities.

The exercise was part of the ongoing annual military drills between South Korea and the U.S..

The allies launched their annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle drills on Feb. 28, despite the denouncement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that the drills are a "rehearsal for invasion." The allies have said that the drills are "defensive in nature," and completed the 11-day Key Resolve drill, which focused on computer-based simulations. The Foal Eagle exercise, involving field training, runs through April 30.