"Tri-nation security drills strengthen defense against North Korea threat"

South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted joint naval missile defense exercises to improve their responses to North Korean threats. North Korea accused the US of ramping up "nuclear blackmail" with military drills. The three nations agreed to hold regular missile defense and anti-submarine exercises to boost diplomatic and military cooperation. North Korea tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday that experts say would ease the way for missile launches with little warning. Pyongyang has threatened "more practical and offensive" action as South Korean and US forces have performed annual springtime exercises since March.