Washington, Seoul Conduct Joint Maritime Exercises East of Korean Peninsula

The US and South Korean navies conducted joint maritime exercises on Monday in waters to the east of the Korean Peninsula in response to recent missile and nuclear tests carried out by North Korea, the office of US Naval Forces Korea Commander (CNFK) said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the statement, the US and South Korean navies trained joint response to potential missile threats from North Korea.

"This Combined Maritime operation is another example of the broad range of capabilities the Alliance has to confront North Korea's unacceptable behavior and the threat they pose to the stability on the Korean Peninsula, and the region," US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks said, as quoted in CNFK statement.

US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), South Korean Aegis destroyers, as well as submarines, anti-submarine helicopters and P-3 patrol aircraft were engaged in the exercises, CNFK statement reads.

On August 3, North Korea launched two missiles. One of them exploded immediately after the launch, while the other one flew over the country's territory and fell in the Sea of Japan.

On September 9, Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test at its northeastern nuclear test site. The nuclear experiment is believed to be the fifth and the largest since North Korea started pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.