US, S Korea begin joint naval exercise

SEOUL/HANOI: The United States and South Korea on Saturday started joint naval exercises that will involve three US aircraft carriers in what military officials describe as a clear warning to North Korea.

The four-day drills that began in waters off South Korea’s eastern coast come as US President Donald Trump continues a visit to Asia that has been dominated by discussions over the North Korean nuclear threat.

The battle groups of the USS Ronald Reagan, the Theodore Roosevelt and the Nimitz will successively enter the exercise area during the drills that run until Tuesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The three carriers will be likely together in the drills around Monday, according to a South Korean military official, who didn’t want to be named.

The exercises will also involve 11 US Aegis ships and seven South Korean naval vessels, including two Aegis ships. The Aegis technology refers to missile defence.

PYONGYANG BRANDS TRUMP A ‘WARMONGER’ As Trump was due to land in Hanoi today, as North Korea slammed his “warmonger” Asia tour, saying it will only accelerate Pyongyang’s push for a fullfledged nuclear deterrent.

Trump repeatedly railed against the North as he urged the region to take a united front against the threat by the nation.

Pyongyang issued its retort by branding Trump’s Asia tour a “warmonger’s visit for confrontation to rid the DPRK of its selfdefensive nuclear deterrence”, the first official comments on the visit.