The United States, South Korea and Japan held joint naval missile defense exercises around the Korean peninsula on Tuesday, as North Korea denounced Washington’s “gang leaders” and its allies for raising the risk of war nuclear.
The three countries have held drills in international waters around South Korea’s Jeju Island to improve their ability to locate and track targets and share information in the event of a provocation by Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.
The activities come as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calls for a “radical” modernization of weapons and equipment in his country’s naval forces, criticizing the growing presence of US strategic assets in the region.
In a speech to mark Navy Day, Kim said the “ringleaders” of the United States, Japan and South Korea had announced regular joint military exercises, KCNA news agency reported, apparently referring to the Aug. 18 summit between the allies at Camp David, in the US state of Maryland.
“Due to reckless engagement moves by the United States and other hostile forces, the waters around the Korean peninsula have been reduced to the world’s largest concentration of war-related equipment, the most volatile waters with the danger of nuclear war,” he said Kim. by KCNA.
In the first joint meeting between the leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan, the three agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation in an effort to project unity in the face of China’s growing power and North Korea’s nuclear threats.
Japan said sharing information on ballistic missiles was part of Tuesday’s drills.
“The exercises will greatly facilitate trilateral cooperation and demonstrate the commitment of Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea to safeguard a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement.
South Korea and the United States began the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises last week, designed to enhance their joint response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. Pyongyang has long denounced the exercises as a dress rehearsal for war.
Source: Terra
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