The Japanese Defense Ministry reported Saturday that some of its fighter aircraft and U.S. Army bombers have conducted joint maneuvers in the East China Sea.
According to Japanese public television NHK, the exercises took place on Saturday afternoon over the Japanese island of Kyushu.
A total of nine aircraft have participated in the maneuvers, five are fighter jets of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and two fighter jets and two bombers are American. The latter have also participated in joint actions with the South Korean Army.
The Ministry has stressed that these exercises demonstrate that the two countries are prepared to deal with the security situation in the area and are «close allies», while noting that conditions are increasingly tense because of repeated launches by North Korea.
In recent days, North Korea has conducted numerous launches to test ballistic missiles. These have led to the response of the G7 countries which, after condemning them, have reminded Pyongyang that should it carry out a new nuclear test, there will be a «swift, united and forceful» response from the international community.
The Secretary of the United Nations, António Guterres, also pronounced himself in the same sense and condemned the launching of an intercontinental missile, after which he showed his concern for the escalation of tensions in this region.
