Japan-US exercises hours after Pyongyang's ballistic missiles test
In response to North Korea's launching of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, the Japanese forces and the US military conduct joint exercises.
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Japanese forces and the US military conducted joint exercises in response to North Korea's launches
The US and Japanese forces conducted Sunday military exercises hours after North Korea (DPRK) launched ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, reported Russian news agency Novosti.
The agency quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces as saying that the Japanese forces and the US military conducted joint exercises in response to North Korea's launch of its ballistic missiles.
The Japanese Joint Chiefs of Staff affirmed that the two sides intend to continue cooperation in order to ensure the protection of Japan and peace and stability in the region.
Japanese government lodged protest with N.Korea
On his part, the Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi confirmed that North Korea launched at least six missiles, with a range of 300 to 400 km, and an altitude of 50 to 100 km, adding that "this is absolutely unacceptable."
Similarly, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the North Korean launches, noting that the Japanese government had lodged a protest with North Korea.
"We cannot tolerate such launches because they threaten the peace and stability of the international community," Kishida told reporters.
He pointed out that "we will continue our best efforts to collect information and conduct surveillance in close coordination with the United States and South Korea."
US commitment to Japan, S.Korea defense "remains ironclad"
On its part, the US Indo-Pacific Command pointed out that it was consulting closely with allies and partners, adding that the launches "highlight the destabilizing impact of the DPRK's illicit weapons program."
In a statement, the Command said the US commitment to the defense of Japan and South Korea "remains ironclad".
It is noteworthy that in April, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force announced that Japan and the United States had conducted joint exercises in the Sea of Japan, during which they exchanged training information about ballistic missile launches.
Earlier, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that "North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile(s) into the East Sea," referring to the Sea of Japan.
The missiles were launched from multiple locations over a 30-minute period, including Sunan in the capital Pyongyang, Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan province, and Hamhung in South Hamgyong province, they claimed.
South Korea and US wrapped up large-scale drills
The launch comes barely a day after South Korea and the United States wrapped up large-scale, three-day exercises involving the USS Ronald Reagan, a 100,000-tonne nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
The exercises were the allies' first joint military drills since South Korea's new President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last month and the first involving an aircraft carrier since November 2017.
"The exercise consolidated the two countries' determination to sternly respond to any North Korean provocations while demonstrating the US commitment to provide extended deterrence," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
