Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Defense Minister HAMADA Yasukazu has condemned the launching of a missile by North Korea on September 25.

Hamada made the comment during a visit to Yokota Airbase on the outskirts of Tokyo. Hamada also greeted the officers of the Air Defense Command at the headquarters of the Japanese Air Force located on the base and praised the collaboration between the Americans and the Japanese military.

In answer to a question from Arab News Japan, the Japanese minister also commended the joint naval exercises between South Korea and the United States that took place between September 23 and 27, which involved 20 American and South Korean ships, the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and a nuclear-powered submarine.

The joint exercise was aimed at strengthening the two fleets to counter nuclear threats from North Korea.

North Korea regularly denounces the holding of large-scale military exercises by the United States and its allies in the region.