U.S. and Japan Begin Huge War Games

“Are you watching, North Korea?” seemed to be the message as the United States and Japan began a massive set of military drills in the China seas. Determined to prolong its show of force in the region, having just concluded a series of war games with South Korea in the Yellow Sea, the U.S. has mobilized more than 10,000 troops—to add to Japan’s 34,000—several hundred aircraft, and a supercarrier. But the maneuvers have made China, North Korea’s only ally in Asia, more than a little uncomfortable. "At present, there are already enough of these kinds of military exercises,” China’s foreign ministry said. “Under the present conditions, all relevant parties ought to do more to benefit the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region, and not the opposite.”