South Korea, U.S. and Japanese warships have launched their first anti-submarine drills in five years, after North Korea renewed ballistic missile tests this week.
The North’s recent five missiles launches, the first such tests in a month, also came before and after U.S. Vice Presidentvisited South Korea on Thursday and reaffirmed the “ironclad” U.S. commitment to the security of its Asian allies.
The one-day three-nation training off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast is meant to cope with a North Korean push to advance its ability to fire missile from submarines, according to a South Korean navy statement. North Korea has been building bigger submarines including a nuclear-powered one and testing sophisticated missiles that can be fired from them in recent years. That’s an alarming development for its rivals because it’s harder to detect underwater-launched missiles in advance.South Korean officials said last weekend that they had detected signs that North Korea was preparing to test-fire a missile from a submarine.
Friday’s drills involve the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as well as U.S., South Korean and Japanese destroyers, the navy statement said. During the training, the navy ships from the three nations were to search and track a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine posing as a North Korean submarine while exchanging related information, according to media reports.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korea fires missile after Harris leaves South KoreaThe launch on Thursday came hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris departed from South Korea.
Read more »
North Korea fires missiles after VP Kamala Harris leaves South KoreaVice President Kamala Harris capped her four-day trip to Asia with a stop at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Korean Peninsula today.
Read more »
North Korea fires missiles after Harris leaves South KoreaIn a show of defiance, North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew home from a visit to South Korea during which she emphasized the “ironclad” U.S. commitment to the security of its Asian allies.
Read more »
South Korea sees Oct.16-Nov.7 window for N.Korea nuclear testNorth Korea has completed preparations for a nuclear test and a possible window for carrying it out could be between Oct. 16 and Nov. 7, South Korean lawmakers briefed by its spy agency said on Wednesday.
Read more »
North Korea fires missile after Harris leaves South KoreaHarris earlier capped her trip to Asia with a meeting with the South Korean president and a stop at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two countries.
Read more »
North Korea fires missiles after Harris leaves South KoreaIn a show of defiance, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday, hours after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris flew home from a visit to South Korea.
Read more »