South Korea, US, And Japan Conduct Joint Maritime Drill Against DPRK Missiles
South Korea, the United States and Japan are holding a joint maritime exercise this weekend to improve their ability to detect and track ballistic missiles in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, The Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.
The exercise, and the third such exercise after the June and November 2016 editions, aims to strengthen joint capabilities to respond to North Korean military threats that are estimated to be capable of launching a ballistic missile Intercontinental (ICBM) from a mobile launcher at Panghyon Air Base.
In the drill, which will take place from Friday to Sunday in waters close to the three nations, three destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system will be mobilized, the Sucorean Army said, quoted by the agency. South Korean military suspects the North is preparing a test for two new missiles, shorter than the ICBMs available so far, to send a warning message to the administration of Donald Trump, who will be sworn in as US president on Friday.
Specifically, a South Korean "Sejong el grande" destroyer of 7,600 tons, an American Curtis Wilbur of 8,800 tons, and Japanese destroyers Kirishima will participate. It is the third simulation of its kind following those carried out in June last year near the American island of Hawaii and in November.
According to unidentified sources quoted by Yonhap on Thursday, Pyongyang has managed to manufacture a new type of intercontinental ballistic missiles being mounted on mobile shuttles. The South Korean military believes that the DPRK could try out these new missiles at any time after its top leader, Kim Yong Un, said in his New Year speech that his country is already in the last stage before testing the launch of a long-range ballistic missile.
An official of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul previously said there were no imminent signs of provocation, but acknowledged that the North could fire a missile anytime, anywhere by the decision of its leaders. North Korea conducted two nuclear tests last year after those of 2006, 2009 and 2013.