US, ROK, Japan conduct joint military drills

SEOUL - US aircraft carrier USS George Washington has been conducting joint military drills with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan on the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The 97,000-ton super-carrier was carrying out trilateral maritime exercises to enhance missile detection capabilities jointly with Aegis destroyers of South Korea and Japan, according to a military official cited by Yonhap.

Other participants included guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam CG-54 and guided-missile destroyer USS Preble DDG 88 from the US side along with destroyers and frigates from Seoul.

After completing the training, the USS George Washington, capable of loading some 70 units of fighter jet, anti-submarine helicopter and early warning aircraft, planned to enter South Korea's southern port city of Busan on Friday.

Starting from next Monday, the US aircraft carrier would conduct bilateral maritime exercises with South Korean warships for two to three days, which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has strongly condemned.