Russia and China are about to conduct their first-ever missile defense drills.

Russia and China have announced they will conduct missile defense drills, a move in response to discussions between the US and South Korea about establishing a missile shield.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov during a meeting in Beijing on April 28. Photo: Reuters

Last weekend, the foreign ministers of Russia and China urged the U.S. to halt its plans to build a missile shield in South Korea, which the U.S. claims is to protect its ally from the threat posed by North Korea.The White House stated that the shield would not affect the security of other countries if installed in South Korea, and that discussions were still ongoing.

Russia and China do not want this to happen, fearing that the defense system will affect their strategic security. In a retaliatory move against the US, Russia and China will conduct missile defense exercises at a Russian missile research center this month, CNA reported today, citing the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

Accordingly, the exercise will enhance the adaptability between the two countries' militaries in terms of data transmission and control systems.

Following North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, the United States and its ally South Korea have discussed the possibility of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on South Korean territory.

North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile tests angered its ally China, which agreed to the Security Council resolution on sanctions. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that he would "not allow war and violence to break out" on the Korean Peninsula.

According to VNE