In wake of North Korea’s missile launch, Japan, US fighter jets conduct joint drill
Japanese and U.S. fighter jets conduct a joint drill over the East China Sea on Tuesday. Courtesy of the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office via The Japan News/Asia News Network
TOKYO — The Air Self-Defense Force of Japan and the U.S. military conducted joint drills with 12 fighter jets over the East China Sea west of Kyushu on Tuesday, soon after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile earlier in the day.
The Defense Ministry made the announcement, saying the drill was intended to demonstrate the readiness and cooperation between Japanese and U.S. forces.
According to the ministry’s Joint Staff Office, the drill involved four ASDF F-15s, four ASDF F-2s and four U.S. F-35B fighter jets.
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