TOKYO (Sputnik) — The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) said in statement that it will conduct joint military drills on Wednesday with the US naval group led by the USS Carl Vinson, which had arrived in the region amid the recent escalation of the situation with North Korea.
“The drills will take place on April 26. It will be conducted in the western sea area of Okinawa prefecture. The drills will include [from the Japanese side] two F-15 fighters, from the maritime self-defense force – Samidare and Ashigara destroyers. From the US side — the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, other ships, two F-18 fighters,” the statement read.
26 April 2017, 02:01 GMT
On Sunday, Japan and the United States started naval military exercises in the Pacific Ocean with participation of a US naval group led by the USS Carl Vinson, according to the JSDF. The group was sent by the United States to the Korean Peninsula amid growing tensions in the region. North Korean state Rodong Sinmun newspaper reportedly said that Pyongyang was ready to show its military power in response to the US move to send its naval group, while the country's revolutionary forces could sink the USS Carl Vinson with a single strike.
