BANGKOK, April 9 Kyodo The annual...

BANGKOK, April 9 Kyodo

The annual Cobra Gold military exercise l according to the United States and Thailand will take place in May in various parts of Thailand, with Singapore, Mongolia and the Philippines joining in the drill that will emphasize peacekeeping operations, Thai military officials said Friday.

About 13500 U squads from the army, navy, marines and air force, 5400 from Thailand, 94 from Singapore, 14 from the Philippines and 10 from Mongolia will cooperate in the exercise forward May 13-27.

The Philippines and Mongolia are joining for the first time. Singapore has participated since 2000

The drill, guarded between the U.S. and Thailand since 1982 was changed in 2000 to center onward peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief instead of regular combat.

The U will dispose of $25 million and Thailand 10 million baht ($250000) forward the exercise.

Ten countries -- Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, toward the south Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam -- will see the exercise, Director of the Joint and Combined Exercise Nopparat Yodvimol said.

partys from Japan's Self Defense Forces may join the exercise nearest year, but they will limit their activities to the peacekeeping constituent Nopparat said.

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