File image of South Korean Navy, U.S. Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during a joint naval exercise in international waters off South Korea’s southern island of Jeju. Photo: South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images
South Korea, the United States and Japan will stage joint naval missile defence exercises on April 17 as they push for greater security cooperation to better counter North Korea’s evolving missile threats, Seoul’s navy said.
The announcement came days after the three countries agreed at their trilateral talks in Washington to conduct regular missile defence and anti-submarine exercises as part of efforts to scale up diplomatic and military cooperation.
Monday’s drills will be held in international waters between Korea and Japan, bringing together South Korea’s 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yi I, U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, and Japan’s Atago destroyer, also equipped with Aegis radar systems.
The three countries would focus on mastering…
