US, S Korea, Japan Conclude Ballistic Missile Defense Drills in Pacific

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo concluded joint Pacific Dragon (PD) ballistic missile defense military exercises in the Pacific region, the US Navy said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in June, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter reported that the scheduled trilateral drills would be held in order to improve coordination against Pyongyang's "provocations."

"Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet is wrapping up the third biennial exercise Pacific Dragon (PD) from June 20-28 off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii," the statement published on Tuesday said.

The statement added that during the exercises the participants tested the capabilities of their Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Systems and strengthened interoperability, as well as communication and data collection capabilities, despite the fact that there were no missiles fired.

The PD is biennial trilateral ballistic missile defense drills between the US Navy, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, and the Republic of Korea Navy. The exercise is conducted in order to improve coordination between its participants in the spheres of detection and tracking of ballistic missiles.

In 2016, the drills are held amid intense nuclear and missile activities of Pyongyang, which has successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test and put a satellite into orbit earlier in the year, violating UN Security Council resolutions.