SEOUL (AP) — North Korea threatened South Korean passenger planes flying near its airspace on Thursday and accused the U.S. and South Korea of attempting to provoke war with upcoming joint military drills.

North Korea continues to position forces into the area just north of the DMZ— in a position to threaten Combined Forces Command and all of Seoul with little warning. Seventy percent of their active force, including approximately 700,000 troops, over 8,000 artillery systems, and 2,000 tanks, is postured within 90 miles of the Demilitarized Zone. This percentage continues to rise despite the June 2000 summit. Most of this force in the forward area is protected in over 4,000 underground facilities, out of over 11,000 nationwide. From their current locations, these forces can attack with minimal preparations or warning. The protracted southward deployment follows a tactic of “creeping normalcy”—a significant movement over a period of many years that would attract too much international attention if accomplished over weeks or months.

South Korea's military is around 560,000 strong in comparison to North Korea's 1,000,000 man plus size military.

The U.S. military is composed of almost three million personnel, of which approximately half are reserve personnel. The U.S. military is one of the largest militaries in terms of number of personnel.

US troop levels in Iraq varies but is now around 160,000.

The number of US troops in South Korea varies but ranges out around 35,000 to 40,000.

The United States maintains another 40,000 troops in Japan.

The United States maintains around 26,000 troops in Afghanistan. This number varies and may increase in 2009.