South Korea plans military drills

South Korea plans more military drills after US warships leave, Yonhap news agency said, a move likely to add to tension on the divided peninsula after last week's attack by the North.

The isolated North's only powerful ally, China, protected Pyongyang from censure by the UN Security Council for last week's bombardment of the South's Yeonpyeong Island.

The USS George Washington was expected to head back to Japan yesterday.