South Korea's annual defense exercise kicks off

South Korean troops conducted river-crossing exercises on Friday, as part of an annual military enhancing program called Hogook -- Protecting Fatherland. More than 2,000 soldiers participated in the drill in Yeoju, southeast of Seoul. About 20 helicopters and 800 vehicles were mobilised during the day-long training. The soldiers used temporary bridges to get armoured vehicles across the river. Newly appointed South Korean Defence Minister Kim Tae-young observed the exercise.North Korea has criticised many South Korean military drills.North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korea War ended in a truce without a peace treaty.About 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea to support the country's some 670,000 troops. North Korea has a 1.2 million-strong military, most of whom are stationed near the heavily fortified border that divides the peninsula.