Japan, US plan joint air, naval drills from Thurs
Source: Reuters
(Adds more details) TOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Japan and the United States said on Tuesday they will hold joint air and naval exercises for a week from Thursday in waters and airspace around Japan. The exercises come at a time when the international community is trying to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. North Korea agreed to return to stalled six-party talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme last week, about three weeks after Pyongyang staged its first nuclear test. The U.S. Navy said it would send about a dozen warships for the drills, including the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and the USS Shiloh, which is equipped with the high-tech Aegis radar system and SM-3 missiles intended to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. About 90 Japanese warships and 170 aircraft will take part in the joint naval exercises with the United States in waters including the Sea of Japan, the Japanese defence ministry official said. The official said the exercises were being held to ensure close security coordination between Japan and the United States. "The joint naval exercises between Japan and the United States are not aimed at any specific country or region," the official said. The U.S. Navy said in a statement that the exercise was "designed to improve both Naval Forces' capabilities for coordinated and bilateral operations in the defence of Japan."
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