News - Middle East: Japan and the US are conducting a joint military drill following North Korea's repeated missile launches, Japan's Defense Ministry says.

The drill, which is taking place in areas around Japan, involves US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan as well as a Japanese destroyer.

The exercise has been underway since Oct. 1, according to a ministry announcement, which did not say when it is scheduled to end.

On Wednesday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards its east coast after the US repositioned its aircraft carrier in the waters off the Korean peninsula.

A day after, the US and South Korea also launched a joint naval war game.

North Korea on Saturday defended its recent back-to-back missile tests as a legitimate defense against military threats posed towards the country on the part of the United States.

"The missile test launch by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is a regular and planned self-defensive step for defending the country's security and the regional peace from the US direct military threats that have lasted for more than half a century," the North's civil aviation agency said.

Pyongyang has conducted six ballistic missile launches in a matter of fewer than two weeks.
The most recent of the launches took place on Thursday, with the North firing two short-range ballistic missiles towards its east coast.