Japan, Us, S.korea Hold Trilateral Drills In Sea Of Japan
Japan's Defense Ministry says the Maritime Self-Defense Force started joint drills with the US and South Korean navies in the Sea of Japan on Friday morning.
The ministry says the anti-submarine exercise involves an MSDF destroyer and five US vessels, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and a submarine, as well as a South Korean destroyer.
The last time the three countries conducted a joint exercise in the Sea of Japan was December 2017.
The Japanese ministry says Friday's drills demonstrate the three countries' commitment to bolstering the rule-based international order.
Observers say the drills are apparently aimed at emphasizing trilateral cooperation, while keeping North Korea, China and Russia in mind.
The United States and South Korea held a joint military exercise from Monday through Thursday, also in the Sea of Japan. North Korea condemned the drills, and fired ballistic missiles on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Japanese ministry officials said on Thursday that vessels belonging to the Russian and Chinese navies entered the East China Sea from the Pacific after passing through the Osumi Strait in southwestern Japan.