The United States and Japan on Tuesday deployed fighter jets for joint exercises in response to North Korea’s test firing of a ballistic missile over Japan.
The drills were held in airspace west of Japan’s Kyushu region, involving eight Japanese fighter jets and four U.S. fighter jets, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.
In a statement [pdf], Japan’s Joint Staff said the security situation surrounding Japan has become “increasingly severe,” citing North Korea’s test-firing of a ballistic missile that flew over Japan early on Tuesday.
“The drills will confirm the Japanese and U.S. forces’ readiness, demonstrate the strong determination of Japan and the United States to deal with any situation, and further strengthen the deterrence of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” it stated….