US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier joins military drill with South Korea, Japan after North Korea ICBM test

A three-day military drill will be carried out by South Korea from Wednesday in response to threats from North Korea which recently conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test. The United States and Japan will also be taking part in the “Freedom Edge” exercise.

The joint military drill also comes as the US State Department said North Korean troops have started engaging in combat operations in Russia’s war with Ukraine.

South Korea’s military said that the joint exercise will feature fighter jets and marine patrol aircraft as well as the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

In a statement, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said that the exercise will include South Korean and Japanese fighter jets, maritime patrol aircraft and the USS George Washington.

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The JCS further informed that the trilateral exercise will also include maritime missile defence training and cyber defence training.

The South Korea, US and Japan’ joint military exercise follows a first round which was held earlier this year after the leaders of the three countries agreed at a summit in 2023 to hold annual training drills.

North Korea has long condemned joint drills between South Korea and the US, calling them a rehearsal for invasion.

The US Air Force, in a statement on Tuesday, said it would retire its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in key regions including South Korea in the fiscal year 2025 as part of its modernisation strategy.

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The aircraft, nicknamed “The Warthog”, was developed for the US Air Force by the Fairchild Republic Company, which is now part of Northrop Grumman, according to the US defence company’s website.

With inputs from Reuters.