JAPAN

U.S., Japanese carriers conduct drills amid soaring North Korea tensions

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (rear) sails side-by-side with the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer Ise during joint military drills in the sea off Japan on Sept. 14. | MARITIME SELF-DEFENSE FORCE / VIA REUTERS

By Jesse Johnson
Staff Writer

Sep 22, 2017

The Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted exercises with the U.S. Navy on Friday amid North Korea's continued nuclear and missile tests, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The show of naval muscle, which the ministry said began on Sept. 11 and was scheduled to wrap up on Sept. 28, involves the Ise, one of Japan's two massive helicopter carriers, and the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, along with their escort ships.

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the exercises saw the two navies carry out exercises involving air defense, anti-submarine warfare and sailing in formation.

U.S., Japanese carriers conduct drills amid soaring North Korea tensions

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