South Korea, US begin joint exercises

(Vatican Radio) Over the next two weeks, about 80,000 American and South Korean troops will play out computer-based battle scenarios thought to involve a war with North Korea.

In previous years, these annual exercises drew criticism from the North.

But this time reaction is muted. On Sunday, North Korean state television said the government would allow reunions for families split apart since the Korean War.

And this weekend the North also allowed in some South Korean factory managers with a view to restarting a joint industrial zone.

It's a change of tune since North Korea's war-talk this spring and a departure from using military exercises in the South as a reason to halt dialogue.

But South Korea's president told her National Security Council on Monday the South needs to keep its guard up.

Park Geun-hye added that history shows trust has often collapsed because promises were not kept.

Alastair Wanklyn reports: