Japan, US, South Korea to hold missile tracking drill amid North Korea crisis

TOKYO – The United States, Japan and South Korea will hold two days of missile tracking drills this week, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force said on Sunday, as tensions rise in the region over North Korea's fast-developing weapons programs.

North Korea has fired two missiles over Japan as it pursues nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of UN sanctions and international condemnation. On Nov. 29, it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile which it said was its most advanced yet, capable of reaching the mainland United States.

The exercises, on Monday and Tuesday, will be the sixth drill sharing information in tracking ballistic missiles among the three nations, the defense force said.