S. Korea, US, Japan hold joint naval drill to counter N. Korea's threats

South Korea, the United States and Japan held a joint naval drill, the South Korean Navy said Sunday, in a show of strengthened trilateral military cooperation against North Korea's escalating nuclear threats, Report informs via The Korea Times.

The three allies staged a missile defense exercise in international waters between South Korea and Japan, Sunday, mobilizing three Aegis-equipped destroyers ― ROKS Yulgok Yi I, USS John Finn and JS Maya ― to enhance readiness against North Korea's missile provocations.

The previous joint drill was held on April 17 and the latest one was the fourth combined exercise to take place during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Sunday's exercise focused on heightening the preparedness of the three naval forces using a simulated ballistic missile target assuming a North Korean ballistic missile provocation, the navy said in a statement.

"Through this exercise, we were able to enhance our military's ballistic missile response capabilities and strengthen security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Moving forward, we will effectively respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats based on our robust response system and trilateral coordination," said Captain Kim Ki-young of the Yulgok Yi I destroyer.

The drill came just four days after North Korea fired what it claimed to be a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward its eastern waters, which the regime said was the second test of its newest ICBM, the Hwasong-18.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was present at the launch, warned of more military provocations "until the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors admit the shameful defeat of their failed hostile policy," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

The ICBM launch, which theoretically puts the entire US mainland in its range, drew strong condemnation from Washington and Tokyo.

South Korea and the US have been continuing to strengthen cooperation with their allies against Pyongyang's increasing belligerence.

On Thursday, a US nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber participated in a joint exercise with South Korea's F-15K fighter jets, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which demonstrated the U.S.' resolve to carry out its extended deterrence capabilities.

The allies are planning to hold an inaugural meeting of the new Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul on Tuesday, co-chaired by South Korea's Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo and US National Security Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.