[theold]

The joint exercise took place in southeastern waters off Jeju Island involving nine warships of the three nations, including the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, from Monday to Wednesday.

"It also focused on responding to maritime security threats, including transporting weapons of mass destruction, and enhancing the trilateral cooperation in establishing the rules-based international order," it added.

The latest drill came amid heightened security concerns following the North's latest test-firing of a hypersonic missile, which is considered harder to detect and shoot down.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240117002...tion=nk/nk