China Daily Asia — The Republic of Korea (ROK) said on Monday it was in talks with Washington about holding joint drills with the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group as it approaches waters off the Korean peninsula amid fears the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) could conduct another nuclear test.
ROK Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun gave no further details other than saying Seoul was holding discussions with the U.S. Navy.
On Sunday, two Japanese destroyers joined the USS Carl Vinson carrier group for drills.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid fears DPRK could conduct another nuclear test.
Abe described his conversation with Trump as a “thorough exchange of views”.
“We agreed to strongly demand that North Korea, which is repeating its provocation, show restraint,” Abe told reporters. DPRK is also known as North Korea.
“We will maintain close contact with the United States, keep a high level of vigilance and respond firmly,” he said.
A Japanese official said the phone call between Trump and Abe was not prompted by any specific change in the situation.
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