US, Japan, and South Korea conduct military drills together

The United States, Japan, and South Korea recently completed four days of military exercises in the East China Sea. This was the first trilateral drill under President Donald Trump and was viewed as a provocation by North Korea. The North sees these drills as preparation for possible military action against its regime. The US Indo-Pacific Command announced the conclusion of the drills, stating they were part of ongoing cooperation among the three nations. The exercises included complex operations, such as bomber escort flights conducted earlier this year. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier led the recent drills. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the purpose of these exercises was to strengthen the countries' ability to respond to threats from North Korea. This includes threats related to nuclear weapons and missile launches. Historically, such drills often lead to military responses from North Korea, including their own exercises. In response to the drills, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized the US for its actions, claiming they exacerbate tensions in the region. She argued that the US is being confrontational and increasing military threats. Lastly, past military exercises in the area have caused unintended consequences. For example, nearly 30 South Korean civilians were injured in February after military aircraft accidentally bombed a civilian area during live-fire drills.