Azernews.Az

South Korea, the United States, and Japan have commenced joint air exercises south of the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's recent launch of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, Azernews reports citing the General Staff of the South Korean Armed Forces.

The exercise, involving fighter jets and B-1B bombers from all three countries, included attack scenarios targeting conventional threats.

In a statement, the General Staff emphasized, "Amid the gradual expansion of security cooperation between the three countries, we will strengthen coordination to prevent and jointly respond to North Korea's threats." This marks the second joint military air exercise conducted by these nations this year.

North Korea launched the intercontinental ballistic missile on October 31, with the country's official news agency KCNA reporting that leader Kim Jong-un observed the event. Japan's Ministry of Defense noted that the missile's flight time was 1 hour and 26 minutes, making it North Korea's longest-range ballistic missile to date, covering a distance of 1,000 kilometers from an altitude of approximately 7,000 kilometers.

In response, South Korea, the United States, and Japan condemned North Korea's missile launch, reiterating their commitment to regional security and stability.