The United States, South Korea and Japan conducted exercises near the Korean Peninsula for the first time

The United States, South Korea and Japan conducted joint air exercises near the Korean Peninsula for the first time on October 22. reported Yonhap agency citing the South Korean Air Force.

“These exercises were designed to <...> enhancing the three countries’ ability to respond to North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats,” the military said.

The trilateral exercises took place south of the peninsula, where the air defense identification zones of South Korea and Japan intersect. They were attended by the US Air Force B-52H strategic bomber, as well as South Korean, American and Japanese fighters. The parties, as noted, plan to further strengthen trilateral cooperation based on the “strong” alliance of Seoul and Washington.

According to the agency, the exercises were held after the leaders of the three countries agreed at a summit in August to strengthen security cooperation and conduct “annual multi-domain trilateral exercises” on a regular basis.

Earlier in October, the parties conducted joint exercises to intercept targets at sea in the waters south of the Korean Peninsula for the first time in seven years.

In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un came to Russia on an official visit and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, called this meeting “timely, useful and constructive.” The Kremlin emphasized that Russia will continue to develop relations with North Korea. After the North Korean leader’s visit to Russia, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said that if Russia helps North Korea expand its weapons programs in exchange for assistance in conducting a special operation, it would be a “direct provocation.”