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US, SKorean, Japanese manoeuvres postponed because of typhoon

Consultations are under way to postpone the planned manoeuvres or cancel them

SEOUL October 8 (Itar-Tass) - The manoeuvres of the U.S., South Korean and Japanese navies near the Korean Peninsula are postponed because of the approaching powerful typhoon, the South Korean navy headquarters said on Tuesday.

Consultations are under way to postpone the planned manoeuvres or cancel them, a navy official said.

According to weather forecasters, the typhoon will cover the south of the peninsula on Wednesday.

Manoeuvring of warships and search and rescue operations were planned for the exercises from Tuesday to Thursday with the participation of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington and South Korean and Japanese destroyers.

The North Korean army was placed on alert to be ready to begin combat actions at any time in response to their manoeuvres that were planned to begin in the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, North Korea’s central news agency reported.

The Korean People's Army was ordered to attentively watch actions of American and Japanese aggressors and the South Korean regime to be ready to begin combat actions at any moment, a North Korean general staff official said in a statement published on Tuesday.

The situation again became tense on the Korean Peninsula, despite North Korea's steps to ease the tension in the region, the official said, blaming Washington, Tokyo and Seoul.