![Foal Eagle 2015](https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551c3ac2ecad042c3f64717d-1200-924/foal-eagle-2015.jpg)
Lee Jin-man/AP
South Korean Navy's air cushion landing craft approaches to the beach as U.S. Marine takes his position during the U.S.-South Korea joint landing military exercises as a part of the annual joint military exercise Foal Eagle between South Korea and the United States in Pohang, south of Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 30, 2015.
The operation involves 12,500 US troops, along with $4.
Because Foal Eagle takes place in South Korea, North Korea views it as a possible practice run for an invasion. Pyongyang has ratcheted up the rhetoric and has $4 that Foal Eagle 2015 would be greeted with a "merciless baptism by fire."
In response to the start of Foal Eagle, North Korea launched two SCUD missiles into the sea outside of South Korea on March 2. On March 12, North Korea fired an additional seven surface-to-air missiles to protest against the exercise.