Joint Naval Exercises

[Anchor Lead]

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is taking part in joint naval exercises currently underway in South Korean waters. Fighter jets and assorted aircraft held simulated drills, which prompted harsh criticism from North Korea.

[Pkg]

The U.S. Navy's strategic F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets take off with ear-splitting roars. On the deck the size of three football fields, an array of aircraft equipped with assorted electronic devices and early warning systems wait to move out. Radars rotate endlessly to detect any movement in the surrounding areas. The media got a look at the USS Ronald Reagan in action as the vessel carrying some 70 aircraft took part in a joint R.O.K-U.S. naval exercise.

[Soundbite] Capt. Michael "Buzz" Donnelly (Commanding Officer, USS Ronald Reagan)

In the hangar, mechanics look after the planes. There are roughly 5,000 people onboard the aircraft carrier, which is as tall as a 20-story apartment building. The combat power of the USS Ronald Reagan is comparable to most countries' air forces. Some 40 vessels from the two countries, including South Korea's Aegis destroyer Sejong the Great, are taking part in the joint naval drills. In commentaries, North Korea criticized the presence of several American strategic weapons in the region saying it's the last ditch effort of a cornered United States of America.