In a show of force following North Korea's recent hypersonic missile launch, South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted joint naval drills in waters south of the Korean Peninsula this week.

The exercises ran from Monday to Wednesday and involved nine warships from all three nations, including the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

The drills, held in southeastern waters off Jeju Island, featured South Korean Aegis combat system destroyers alongside Japan's Kongo-class destroyers. This marks the first joint exercise since North Korea's missile launch on Sunday, which tested a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) emphasized the drill's objective: strengthening the three nations' ability to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, as well as maritime threats in general.

Additionally, the exercises honed responses to maritime security concerns like the potential transport of weapons of mass destruction and furthered trilateral cooperation in upholding a rules-based international order.

North Korea's hypersonic missile test marks its first launch of 2024 and raises concerns about the country's advancing weapons capabilities.

The joint drills demonstrate the commitment of South Korea, the US, and Japan to regional security and cooperation in the face of North Korean provocations.

The involvement of the USS Carl Vinson signifies the US's unwavering support for its South Korean ally. (ILKHA)