Japanese warship conducts drills with US aircraft carrier heading to North Korea

Two Japanese destroyers began drills today with the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson strike group en route to the Korean peninsula.

Japanese destroyer Samidare. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Samidare and Ashigara warships left western Japan on April 21 to join the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group in a show of solidarity with the United States in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The warships will "conduct various tactical exercises" with the US group, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF).

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the Carl Vinson carrier strike group to waters off the Korean Peninsula in response to rising tensions related to North Korea.

Japan is deploying the Carl Vinson to escort the warship at least as far as the East China Sea, a source familiar with the matter said. The MSDF did not say how long the two destroyers would accompany the US group.

Japan's show of naval power reflects Tokyo's concerns that Pyongyang could attack it with nuclear or chemical warheads.

North Korea will mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the People's Army on April 25. Many experts believe that Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear or missile test on that occasion. North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and test-fired several ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan.

President Trump vowed to prevent North Korea from gaining the ability to strike the United States with nuclear missiles, warning that no option, including military action, would be ruled out. North Korea also threatened a nuclear attack on the United States if Washington took provocative action.

According to VNE