S. Korea, U.S., Japan conduct first trilateral missile-tracking exercise

한미일, 첫 미사일 추적훈련…"北미사일 대비 공조강화" South Korea, the U.S. and Japan launched their first trilateral missile defense exercise in Hawaii... to counter the threats posed by North Korea. This comes at a time when multiple signs indicate Pyongyang could be planning a provocation near the inter-Korean sea border. Our defense correspondent Kim Hyun-bin has more on the Pacific Dragon. Seoul, Tokyo and Washington kicked off their first trilateral missile-tracking exercise off the coast of Hawaii on Tuesday. The exercise, dubbed Pacific Dragon, comes just a week after North Korea test-fired its sixth Musudan mid-range ballistic missile, which has a range that could put Japan and the U.S. territory of Guam within reach. Vice Admiral Nora Tyson, the commander of the U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet, says the Pacific Dragon exercise gives the participating nations an opportunity to exercise their ballistic missile defense capabilities while enhancing relations. The exercise is aimed at early detection of enemy missiles and focuses on building cooperation, sharing information and tracking an enemy missile's flight path. To better coordinate their missile tracking capabilities, the three nations have each deployed an Aegis destroyer to the drill. They will also share information via a tactical data link in accordance with their trilateral defense-information-sharing agreement signed earlier this year. North Korea has called the drills a military provocation against the regime and said it would bolster its nuclear capabilities and other strategic attack methods to carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike if the exercise poses a threat. Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News. Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages Facebook(NEWS):   / newsarirang   Homepage: http://www.arirang.com Facebook:   / arirangtv   Twitter:   / arirangworld   Instagram:   / arirangworld