Admiral: US-led military drills focus on combatting terrorism, not sending message to N. Korea

Admiral: US-led drills not about sending message

HONOLULU — The commander of military drills in the Pacific says the focus of the exercises was training to combat terrorism, not sending a message to North Korea.

Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt says the biennial 14-nation Rim of the Pacific military exercises had been planned for two years and weren’t a reaction to North Korea’s accusation earlier this month that the U.S. and South Korea were plotting to attack.

Hunt says Pacific nations will be better able to combat terrorism, piracy and violent extremism as a result of the exercises.

The military drills that end Sunday brought together 20,000 personnel, 32 ships, five submarines and more than 170 aircraft in waters surrounding Hawaii.