US, South Korea, Japan Begin Their Military Drills With An Eye To North Korea

CNN: US, South Korea, Japan start drills off North Korea

(CNN)The US, Japan and South Korea sent a pointed message to North Korea on Tuesday, dispatching high-tech missile defense ships to the same area where Pyongyang fired four missiles just eight days ago.

Aegis warships from the US, South Korea and Japan began exercises Tuesday to improve their capability to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles, the US Navy said in a statement.

The US Navy called the two-day drills "a trilateral missile warning informational link exercise."

"The exercise will employ tactical data link systems to trade communications, intelligence and other data among the ships in the exercise," a statement from the US Navy's 7th Fleet in Japan said.

China's Foreign Ministry reacted sternly Tuesday afternoon, calling on all sides to end "a vicious cycle that could spiral out of control."

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More News On The Start of Military Drills In South Korea

U.S. carrier joins South Korea drills, North Korea warns of 'merciless' strikes -- Reuters
USS Carl Vinson to be deployed in warning to North Korea -- UPI
US carrier to arrive for joint drills with S. Korea as Pyongyang warns of ‘merciless’ strikes -- RT
US, Japan, South Korea practice missile-threat response off Korea -- Stars and Stripes
US to deploy missile-capable drones across border from North Korea -- The Guardian
US sending attack drones to South Korea -- CNN
Pentagon shoots down reports of SEAL Team Six training in South Korea -- FOX News

The North Korean Response

North Korea Promises ‘Merciless’ Strikes -- US News and World Report
North Korea warns US of 'merciless' attacks -- The Hill
Kim Jong Un orders army to prepare for combat -- Daily NK
Report: North Korea developing anti-ship ballistic missiles -- UPI
North Korea asks UN to block war games -- Washington Examiner