The Korean government denies reports of environmental contamination caused by U.S. military activities because it fears this will fuel anti-bases sentiment in the country. Environmental organizations like Green Korea, Greenpeace, and the WorldWatch Institute have some documentation of contamination. Local people's observations are another source. Because of the confrontational situation that still exists between north and south Korea, there are drills and maneuvers year-round, including Team Spirit which damages farmland and destroys crops. Small islands off the coast of Korea have been used as bombing ranges since the Korean War.
Villages nearby suffer from noise.
This has affected animals and pregnant women who suffered spontaneous abortion. There are unexploded shells in places used for live ammunition drills. In 1987, with the rise of the democracy movement in Korea, local people tried to protest it. The Korean government arrested them, and it stills go on. Children have been hurt from unexploded ammunition rounds.