S. Korea, US hold 4-day joint naval drills in East Sea

South Korean and U.S. warships take part in a four-day combined naval exercise conducted in the East Sea, Friday. Courtesy of South Korea's Navy

The South Korean and U.S. navies have staged joint drills this week involving a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the East Sea in efforts to bolster their combined defense posture, Seoul's Navy said Friday,

The four-day exercise took place from Tuesday through Friday, mobilizing more than a dozen warships and maritime patrol aircraft from both sides, according to the Navy.

Among the assets deployed for the drills were the ROKS Yulgok Yi I and the ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong Aegis-equipped destroyers from the South Korean side.

From the U.S. side, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the USS Robert Smalls guided-missile cruiser, and the USS Milius and USS Shoup Aegis-equipped destroyers took part.

"This training was prepared to strengthen deterrence against North Korea ... as well as interoperability of the South Korea and U.S. navies based on the steadfast South Korea-U.S. alliance," the Navy said in a release.

During the exercise, participating troops engaged in realistic maritime drills in areas of anti-submarine and air defense warfare as well as maritime logistics, it said.