The World - News from Feb. 9, 1988

The United States will conduct naval exercises off the South Korean coast next fall as part of a campaign to deter North Korea from disrupting the Olympic Games in Seoul, Administration officials said. Under the current plan, at least one aircraft carrier and possibly two will move into the Sea of Japan along with an escort of warships for the exercises, the officials added. The presence of U.S. warships will be “just a little overt warning that we’re watching them,” one said. But, the officials pointed out, the fact that Soviet athletes will now be participating in the Games has reduced the possibility that North Korea will take military action during the contests.