South Korea's military has announced it will this year double the number of joint anti-submarine drills with the US from last year.

Seoul claims the maneuvers will enhance its readiness to retaliate to any provocation from the DPRK. The announcement came a day after South Korea conducted its first land drill this year involving helicopters.

Meanwhile, American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is preparing to participate in joint military exercise with Japan in the East China Sea later this month.

And turning to news just in, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports the DPRK has proposed holding talks with Seoul by the end of this month, or early next month. We'll bring you more on this as details come to hand.