Navy to Patrol During Games

The United States will conduct naval exercises off South Korea next fall as part of a campaign to deter North Korea from trying to disrupt the Summer Olympic Games, Administration sources said today.

The sources said the Reagan Administration believes that the decision by the Soviet Union to participate in the games has reduced the possibility that North Korea will take any military action during the contests.

“But we don’t mind sending a little reinforcing signal, and the South Koreans would like it, too,” one official said.

The sources said the plan calls for one aircraft carrier and a battle group of escorting warships to move into the Sea of Japan for exercises during the games, which are scheduled for late September and early October in Seoul.