The joint exercise was carried out in order to strengthen the security coordination of the three countries.
South Korea, the United States and Japan held a trilateral missile defense exercise in international waters of the East Sea on Sunday (16/7/2023), according to a statement by the South Korean Navy. The exercise comes after North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last week.
The exercise was carried out in order for the three countries to strengthen security coordination amid Pyongyang’s continued attacks, culminating in the launch of the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM last Wednesday. The trilateral exercise involved three Aegis-ROKS-equipped destroyers of South Korea’s Yulgok Yi I, US ships USS John Finn and JS Maya of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, according to a military statement.
With the North Korean ballistic missile launch scenario, the exercise focused on training procedures to detect and track computer-simulated ballistic missile targets, and share related information, according to the military.
“The exercise was conducted as an opportunity to enhance military response capabilities to ballistic missiles and improve security coordination among South Korea, the US and Japan,” a Navy official said.
“Based on our sound military response system and trilateral coordination, (we) will respond effectively to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” the official said.
The three countries last conducted a three-way missile defense exercise in April. Sunday’s drills will be the fourth under Yoon Suk Yeol’s government, which has been seeking to improve trilateral coordination against Pyongyang’s military threats. In a show of force in the face of North Korea’s ICBM launch, South Korea and the US also held a joint air exercise on Thursday, involving US B-52H bombers.
Source : Republika
