Japan to hold naval drills involving U.S. warships in East China Sea on Monday

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will hold drills in the East China Sea involving U.S. warships on Monday, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.
The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), a U.S. Navy Nimitz class supercarrier capable of carrying 90 fighter jets and helicopters, and U.S. destroyers will participate in the exercises, to be held to the west of the Kyushu island, the ministry said.
Japan's NHK TV channel has said the drills are aimed at deterring possible naval operations by North Korea and China.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following the shelling of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island by the North in November, which killed four people.
In December, Seoul held large-scale military drills involving hundreds of military personnel and more than 100 types of weapons, including tanks, anti-tank missiles, helicopters and fighter jets. North Korea then warned its opponent of a possible "holy war" using its nuclear deterrent.
Earlier in January, Pyongyang proposed Seoul to start "unconditional and early" talks to repair strained relations between the countries.
 (RIA Novosti)