South Korean Navy's destroyer Yulgok Yi I, , U.S. Navy's USS Benfold and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's JS Atago sail in formation during a joint naval exercise in international waters on April 17, 2023 at an undisclosed location.
SEOUL — The United States, South Korea and Japan staged joint naval missile defense drills off the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, as North Korea accused Washington and its allies of creating "the most unstable waters with the danger of a nuclear war."
The three nations staged exercises in international waters off South Korea's southern Jeju island to improve their ability to detect and track targets, and share information in the event of provocation by Pyongyang, South Korea's military said.
The drills come as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for "radically" modernizing the weapons and equipment of its naval forces, criticizing an increased presence of U.S. strategic assets in the region.
In a speech to mark Navy Day, Kim said the "gang bosses" of the United States, Japan and South Korea announced regular joint military exercises, news agency KCNA reported, apparently referring to their Aug. 18 summit at Camp David, Maryland.
Persons:
Yulgok Yi I, Force's, Kim Jong, Kim, KCNA
Organizations:
Japan, Self, Atago, South Korea
Locations:
Korean, U.S, Benfold, SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, North Korea, Washington, Jeju, Pyongyang, South, Camp David , Maryland