South Korea, US, and Japan Resume Naval Drills in Response to North Korean Ballistic Missiles

Assuming North Korean Provocation Scenario for Detection, Tracking, and Information Sharing

The navies of South Korea, the United States, and Japan will conduct a missile defense exercise on the 17th to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. This exercise comes just four days after North Korea test-fired its new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, on the 13th, and is interpreted as a warning message regarding North Korea's ICBM launches.

According to the navy on that day, the exercise will involve South Korea's Aegis destroyer 'Yulgok Yi I,' the U.S. Navy's Aegis destroyer 'Benfold,' and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's escort ship (destroyer) 'Atago.'

This exercise focuses on rehearsing procedures for detecting, tracking, and sharing information on a hypothetical ballistic missile target, assuming a scenario of North Korean ballistic missile provocations, with the naval forces of the three countries.

Captain Kim Ki-young, commander of the Yulgok Yi I, participating in the exercise, said, "In response to the recent series of North Korea's ballistic missile provocations and the heightened nuclear and missile threats, this is an opportunity to strengthen trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and to firmly establish our navy's ballistic missile response capabilities and posture." He added, "We will further solidify our operational readiness through realistic training."

The naval forces of the three countries also conducted a missile defense exercise in international waters of the East Sea on February 22. That exercise was held just four days after North Korea launched the Hwasong-15 ICBM.

On the 14th of this month (local time), South Korea, the U.S., and Japan agreed to regularize missile defense exercises and anti-submarine warfare drills to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats during the Trilateral Security Dialogue (DTT) held in Washington, D.C., USA.