US, Japan, South Korea hold joint ballistic missile defense drills in East China Sea

Asia-Pacific, News, US August 31, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Naval forces from the U.S., Japan, and South Korea staged joint ballistic missile defense drills off the coast of the Korean Peninsula in the East China Sea near South Korea’s Jeju Island, on August 29, 2023. The drills came days after North Korea’s cruise naval missile test and a failed satellite launch attempt.

The trilateral exercise was aimed at strengthening the naval forces’ joint response capability to counter the threat of ballistic missile attack.

The U.S. Navy’s USS Benfold (DDG-65), Japan’s JS Haguro (DDG-180), and South Korea’s ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992) participated in the exercise. All the destroyers were equipped with the U.S.-made Aegis anti-missile system.

According to a statement released by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces, the commander of the JS Haguo Captain Tomohiro Tomimatsu said that “the exercise was conducted to practice connecting networks among each Aegis ship and sharing information on ballistic missiles. Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and joint response capabilities for ballistic missile defense.”

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command also released a statement stating that “the exercise strongly promotes trilateral cooperation to respond to regional security challenges such as the failed DPRK launch that used ballistic missile technology, a brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that raised tensions and risks destabilizing regional security.”

*^{Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS MURASAME and JS IZUMO (Image Credit: Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam)}*

Rising tension in the Korean Peninsula

The drills come at a time when North Korea’s military activities are increasing. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called to ramp up the weapons production and modernization of his military equipment due to the U.S.’s presence in the region. North Korea accused Washington and its allies of creating “the most unstable waters with the danger of a nuclear war.”

In the wake of rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the region’s stakeholders have also increased cooperation and military activities. Last week, the U.S. and South Korea began large-scale military drills Ulchi Freedom Shield to enhance joint readiness against military threats from North Korea. The exercise involves invasion rehearsals and counterattack operations.

In response to the U.S.-South Korean military exercises, North Korea reported a cruise missile launch last week. North Korea’s state media said that Kim Jong Un inspected a cruise missile test aboard a warship. The launch was aimed at demonstrating “the feature of its missile system,” and was also designed to “make the seamen skilled at carrying out the attack mission in actual war,” the official North Korea’s state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Military leaders meet in Manila

Meanwhile, the military leaders from the U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Philippines met in Manila to discuss growing the cooperation between the four countries. According to a statement released by the U.S. Navy, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas met with Australian Defense Force Chief of Joint Operations Lt. Gen. Greg Bilton, Japan’s Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Akira Saito, and Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci.

^{The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), left, and the Japanese helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181), right, sail in formation with 16 other ships from the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during Keen Sword 2019. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erwin Jacob V. Miciano)}

After the meeting, the military leaders embarked on a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon MPA for a flight over the South China Sea. “During the flight, they were able to observe the maritime environment and discuss ways to increase interoperability, preserve regional stability, and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.

Amphibious assault ships, Australia’s HMAS Canberra (L02), Japan’s helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183), and the U.S.’s amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) also visited Manila during that same period.