The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to conduct regular anti-missile defense and anti-submarine military exercises to deal with the »growing threat» from North Korea during their high-level talks in Washington (USA) earlier this week, South Korea’s Defense Ministry has said.
This agreement has been reached because of recent weapons tests by the country led by Kim Jong Un, including the intercontinental ballistic missile ‘Hwasongpo-18’, which uses solid fuel and whose launch has been condemned by Japan, South Korea and the United States.
Last Friday, the U.S. and South Korean Armed Forces launched a series of joint military maneuvers, including the use of fighters and bombers in response to this launch.
The three countries have held consultations on the resumption of trilateral training programs, such as maritime interdiction and anti-piracy operations, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
The announcement of the joint maneuvers between the countries marks a breakthrough in relations between Japan and South Korea, which have a historical dispute over Japan’s slavery policy against the South Korean population during World War II.
The two countries made progress in their bilateral relations last March following an agreement to accelerate and deepen the exchange of military intelligence as an additional protective measure against North Korea’s ballistic tests.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
