Japan, South Korean, US navies conduct ballistic missile exercise after Pyongyang's show of force

The Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chancellorsville (foreground) along with the JMSDF destroyer JS Chokai (background) and Republic of Korea Navy guided-missile destroyer ROKS Sejong Daewang conduct a trilateral ballistic missile defence exercise in the Sea of Japan on 6 October. (US Navy)

The navies of Japan, South Korea, and the US have conducted a joint ballistic missile defence (BMD) exercise in response to Pyongyang's recent show of force.

The drills were conducted in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on 6 October, according to a statement released by the US Pacific Fleet on the same day. It was done as a response to North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that flew over Japan on 4 October, said the service.

“This exercise enhances the interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea allies, which is forward-leaning, reflective of our shared values, and resolute against those who challenge regional stability,” the service added in its statement.

The ships that were involved in the exercise were namely the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) lead Sejong Daewang (KDX-III)-class destroyer, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force's (JMSDF's) Kongo-class destroyer JS Chokai and Atago-class destroyer JS Ashigara, and the US Navy's (USN's) Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chancellorsville and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold.

The USN ships are part of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which was involved in maritime drills with the JMSDF in waters east of Japan. The carrier was deployed into the Sea of Japan following the IRBM test on 4 October.

During the BMD exercise, Chancellorsville