US wraps up naval drill in restive Sea of Japan

A US-Japan naval drill in the Sea of Japan led by two US aircraft carriers, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan, ended on Saturday after three days. Amid heightened tensions with the DPRK, a senior adviser to the US secretary of defense said the exercises were intended to reassure allies and to keep US forces ready for any crisis.

The Carl Vinson will head back to its home port in San Diego, but the Ronald Reagan will remain in the area.

Japanese media reported the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier left its base on Thursday, and is heading to the West Pacific to replace the Carl Vinson. US officials also reportedly said they would rotate the three aircraft carriers, not deploying all three around the Korean Peninsula at the same time.

(CGTN)