JS KIRISAME conducted a Japan-U.S.-ROK trilateral exercise.

On November 26, JS KIRISAME conducted a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea trilateral exercise with USS CARL VINSON, USS STERETT, USS KIDD and ROKS SEJONG THE GREAT in the East China Sea.
The Commander of Escort Division 4, Captain MAKI Takayuki, who led the Japanese side, said, “Under the situation where attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force have been ongoing around Japan, we practiced various high-end and tactical drills with the U.S. Navy Career Strike Group, which has strong strike capability, and the ROK Navy’s Aegis ship, which has high air-defense capability to improve our tactical capabilities and strengthen cooperation with the two navies. The JMSDF will continue to cooperate strongly with them for creating security environment that does not tolerate any acts against the international order.”
We conducted the exercise to protect shared security and prosperity, bolster rules-based international order, and demonstrate strong determination of three countries to commit ourselves to further promote trilateral cooperation and interoperability so as to respond to regional security challenges amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan.
The Self Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies.