měi guó

美国

duō dì

多地

mín zhòng

民众

jǔ xíng

举行

fǎn zhàn

反战

jí huì

集会

Anti-war rallies were held in several cities across the United States.

Hundreds of activists from Korean, Filipino, and other communities took part. They opposed large-scale joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea and also called for a reduction in U.S. military activities in South Korea and the Asia-Pacific region.

Participants believed that these exercises would increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula, affect peace talks, and could also endanger local residents and the environment.

Previously, an accident occurred during preparations for the exercises, damaging a village and injuring several people. A dangerous chemical leak also occurred at a military base, forcing nearby residents to leave their homes.

At the rallies, people marched, chanted slogans, and used traditional Korean drum music, dance, and Filipino music to express their wish for peace and opposition to war.

They also criticized enormous military spending, saying that public funds should be used more for housing and everyday needs.

The U.S. and South Korean governments said the joint exercises were for defense. Protesters, however, called for the exercises to stop, for U.S. military bases in South Korea to be closed, and for diplomacy to be used to prevent a larger conflict in the Pacific region.