(VOVworld) - Nearly 15,000 South Korean and US troops kicked off the largest joint landing drill for two decades on Thursday.

South Korean and US troops kicked off the largest joint landing drill for two decades

Code-named Ssang Yong, the exercises are taking place on South Korea’s southeastern coast and will last until April 7. A US military spokesperson said the scale of this year's exercises are greater than any in the past. North Korea often views such exercises as provocative rehearsals for invasion.