US, Japan & SK Hold Naval Drills After NK Missile Test Last Week

The US, Japan and South Korea have held a series of joint naval drills today following a missile launch last week from North Korea. The drills come shortly after an agreement reached over the weekend by the three allies to hold regular drills in an effort to counter threats from North Korea.

• Reuters reports: "Monday's drills in international waters between Korea and Japan bring together South Korea's 7,600-tonne Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yi I, the U.S. guided-missile destroyer Benfold, and Japan's Atago destroyer, also equipped with Aegis radar systems.The effort focuses on mastering response procedures, from detection and tracking to information sharing, by creating a virtual target in a scenario featuring a North Korean ballistic missile provocation, the South's navy said."
• The missile test was believed to be the first solid-fuel ICBM tested by Pyongyang. Solid-fuel rockets can be deployed much more quickly than those requiring liquid fuelling, raising the risk of anti-missile defences not being able to intercept in the event of an attack.