US - Japan - South Korea suddenly conduct naval exercises

Japan, the United States and South Korea conducted an unannounced joint naval exercise in waters off the main island of Kyushu, southwest of Japan, Kyodo news agency reported on May 15, citing the South Korean Defense Ministry.

This is a humanitarian search and rescue exercise, conducted regularly since 2011, but it can still face criticism from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

US and South Korean warships during an exercise on February 4.
(Source: AFP/VNA)

Ships, including several Aegis destroyers from the three countries and two escort ships Ashigara and Akizuki of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSD), participated in the exercise.

The exercise was based on a scenario where a civilian ship was in distress and ships from the three countries coordinated to rescue it.

Previously, on May 13-14, the US and South Korea held naval exercises in the Sea of ​​Japan with the participation of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

In another development related to the visit to North Korea by Japanese Prime Minister Isao Iijima's advisor, diplomatic sources in South Korea said on May 15 that the purpose of this visit could be to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted in the past.

Adviser Igima is said to have arranged former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's trips to Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2002 and 2004.

On the same day, May 15, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he might consider meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if it would help resolve the long-standing deadlock over abducted Japanese citizens./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT