81.   North Korea is staging extended winter military drills apparently aimed at controlling its suffering population as the country battles a food crisis, officials here said Wednesday.

82.   North Korea Monday criticized the RIMPAC military drills planned by Japan and other western countries in the Pacific this year.

83.   South Korea held military drills around the islands last week after sighting a Japanese patrol boat in the area.

84.   Sing Tao quoted the source as saying the military drills had been planned for some time.

85.   South Korea has mounted military drills around the islets, which has strategic importance and rich fishing grounds, as civilian groups stage daily anti-Japanese protests.

86.   South Korean officials said last week North Korea was staging extended winter military drills, apparently aimed at controlling its suffering population.

87.   Taiwan began a series of military drills Wednesday but trimmed their scope from original projections in an apparent effort to avoid further provoking China.

88.   Taiwan press reports have said the military drill would start before Lunar New Year celebrations which get underway Monday.

89.   South Korea will stage a massive military drill this week in its capital area to test readiness against a North Korean guerrilla attack, military officials said Sunday.

90.   Taiwan has set up three missile positions since three series of military drills by China last year, a military source told AFP.