SEOUL Apr 3: SouthKorea' began massive military training exercises Monday amid escalating worries over the fate of a deal Io freeze rival North Korea's nuclear pro gramme, suspected of develop Ing weapons reports AP.

The combined tactical exercises. the largest South Ko rea has staged on its own in recent years, will continue until Saturday near the eastern front line, with 80 000 troops from the army, navy and air force participating. Defence Ministry officials sals’

They said the exercises also will Involve reservists, but did not (IIscIom- the number

Similar exercises will be

held later this year along the western front line, the officials said Seoul, the capital, is only 56 kflometers(35 miles) from the North Korean border.

Ministry officials, said the first day exercises included airdrops’of food for ground troops moving to positions in rugged mountains. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Hong-Rae joined in. flying an F-5F jet fighter.

T flew a sortie to check for myself the readiness of our air force against North Korea, which keeps Increasing tension ’’ Kim told local reporters.

The exercises will reach llieli peak Thursday with an amphibious assault landing under air cover on the east coast