S. Korea, US hold 4-day joint naval drills in East Sea

The South Korean and U.S. navies have staged joint drills this week involving a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the East Sea in efforts to bolster their combined defense posture, Seoul’s Navy said Friday, The four-day exercise took place from Tuesday through Friday, mobilizing more than a dozen warships and maritime patrol aircraft from both sides, according to the Navy. Among the assets deployed for the drills were the ROKS Yulgok Yi I and the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong Aegis-equipped destroyers from the South Korean side. From the U.S. side, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the USS Robert Smalls guided-missile cruiser, and the USS Milius and USS Shoup Aegis-equipped destroyers took part. “This training was prepared to strengthen deterrence against North Korea … as well as interoperability of the South Korea and U.S. navies based on the steadfast South Korea-U.S. alliance,” the Navy said in a release. During the exercise, participating troops engaged in realistic maritime drills in areas of anti-submarine and air defense warfare as well as maritime logistics, it sai

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