On Thursday, South Korea and the US held a trilateral naval exercise with Japan in the Sea of Japan. The US contingent included aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and guided-missile destroyer USS Barry.
"We will continuously strengthen our firm operational capabilities and posture to respond to any North Korean provocations through this combined exercise featuring the aircraft carrier strike group redeployed to the peninsula as a measure to reinforce the execution power of America's extended deterrence," the JCS said in a statement, as quoted by South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Japan's destroyer JS Sazanami, left, the United State's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Sterett, center, and South Korean destroyer ROKS Dae Jo Yeong, right rear.
© AP Photo / Wong Maye-E
"Extended deterrence" refers to the US commitment to using all available means, including nuclear weapons, to protect its allies, the news agency clarified.
In addition, South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Heo Tae-keun held phone conversations with his US and Japanese counterparts, Ely Ratner and Kazuo Masuda, respectively, the news agency reported.
According to the report, the diplomats condemned North Korea's missile launches that undermine security and stability in the world and agreed to look for more opportunities for cooperation in response to Pyongyang's actions.
North Korea considers foreign military exercises near its territory a threat and has in the past responded by test launching ballistic missiles. The latest launch was on Thursday and became the 24th since the beginning of the year.