S Korea, US to conduct military drill

South Korean and US troops will carry out an anti-invasion drill on a frontline island next month in response to North Korea's construction of a hovercraft base, news reports said yesterday.
A US military spokesman said he had no information but, if confirmed, it would be the first time the two allies have conducted a joint exercise on Baengnyeong island, near the disputed sea border in the Yellow Sea.
The reports came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed to South Korea for talks with President Lee Myung-Bak.
The drill is likely to be a response to the threat of an attack from a North Korean hovercraft base at Goampo which is only some 50 kilometres north of Baengnyeong island of the south.
"In response to this threat, special troops of the two countries will carry out a drill on Baengnyeong island against attackers on hovercraft," the source said.
US Apache attack helicopters may take part, the daily said.