Marines release fascinating Korean ‘D-Day’ exercise video

The U.S. Marine Corps released fascinating video this week from recent joint amphibious exercises with South Korea.

News of the March 12 beach landing drills, called “Ssangyong” (twin dragons), prompted threats of a “preemptive nuclear attack” from North Korean state media.

American and Korean forces were joined in the amphibious assault drills by members of the New Zealand and Australian armies, according to the video.

Featuring 12,200 U.S. troops and 5,000 Korean soldiers, the drills at the southeastern Korean port of Phoang are the largest ever involving the two nations, according to a South Korean defense ministry spokesman.

The simulated invasion is recorded from several dramatic angles, including video from landing craft, a drone, and the beach. Banks of smoke are seen rolling onto shore, preceding the landing craft and recalling images from the Normandy Invasion the training exercise is nicknamed for.

More video from the Marine Corps:

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Marines release fascinating Korean ‘D-Day’ exercise video."