North Korea and Kim Jong-un’s ongoing commitment to creating an arsenal of deadly nuclear weapons has prompted fresh training drills from US President Donald Trump and his allies in South Korea.
North Korea said the last large-scale military drills made the outbreak of World War 3 “an established fact”.
And now, the United States, Japan, South Korea will hold two days of missile tracking drills, according to Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force.
The allies are responding the growing tensions in the region as North Korea continues its fast-developing weapons programmes.
The fresh exercises will be the sixth drills sharing information in tracking ballistic missiles among the three allies on Kim Jong-un’s doorstep, according to Japanese officials.
It was not established whether the US’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system would be involved in the preparations for further North Korea missile launches.
The THAAD system sparked outrage from China, after the high-tech defence system was installed in South Korea. Beijing fears the system’s powerful radar could look deep into China and threaten its own security.
The international crackdown on North Korea’s weapon programmes includes a series of efforts to cut illegal cash transfers into North Korea.
The United States has mounted pressure on China and other nations to cut trade and diplomatic ties with the rogue state.
On Sunday, South Korea said it will impose new unilateral sanctions on 20 institutions and around a dozen individuals in North Korea.
South Korea’s Finance Ministry said: “This unilateral sanctions will prevent illegal funds flowing to North Korea and contribute to reinforce international communities’ sanctions against North Korea.”
The move is seen largely as symbolic but since Kim Jong-un ramped his threats up against Donald Trump, the US President has seriously bolstered his military might in the region.
Around 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War between 1950-53.