The United States, South Korea, and Japan launched their first trilateral anti-submarine drills in five years on Sept. 30, just a day after North Korea launched its third ballistic missile test this week.
The drills were held in waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, involving the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, Japan’s Asahi-class destroyer, and South Korea’s Munmu the Great destroyer, among others.
The three allies aim to enhance their navies’ interoperability and tactical capabilities to respond to any security challenge in the region, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Indo–Pacific Command.
South Korean commander Capt. Cho Choong Ho said the drills are designed to enhance their combined capabilities against “enemy submarine threats.” South Korea previously warned of a possible submarine-launched ballistic missile test by North Korea….