South Korea and the United States began naval exercises in the Sea of Japan on Monday, a day after North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile that landed there.
“This exercise was designed to demonstrate the strong will of the South Korean alliance with the US to respond to North Korean provocations,” the South Korean Navy said in a statement.
The military exercises mobilize more than 20 ships, including the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, and an unknown number of aircraft. For four days, the two countries’ militaries will conduct simulations of naval battles and antisubmarine warfare, tactical maneuvers and other maritime operations, according to the South Korean Navy. The two allies insist the maneuvers are purely defensive, but North Korea claims the drills are rehearsals for a future invasion of its territory.
These exercises begin the day after a ballistic missile test by the North Korea, the latest in a long line that began a few months ago. The Japan Coast Guard on Sunday, citing information from the Defense Ministry, confirmed the possible launch of a missile and urged ship commanders to remain vigilant in the region.
Amid international sanctions over its nuclear programs, the North Korean government announced in September that it would never give up nuclear weapons.
The US and South Korea last month held the largest joint military exercises since 2018. South Korean President Yoon Sukyeol, who has been in office since May, wants to strengthen the military alliance with the USA with Kim Jongun, the North Korean dictator, after the failure of diplomatic overtures. With 28,500 US troops in South Korea, the US is the key security ally against North Korea’s nuclear threat.