U.S., S. Korea, Japan to hold joint naval exercises this week

Japan, South Korea and the United States will hold joint exercises in waters of Hawaii this week.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement Monday the drills will include a search-and-seizure exercise, a counter-piracy event, a search-and-rescue exercise and officer exchanges.

Three U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships will participate. They are the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal, the guided missile destroyer USS Chafee, the dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry and the cutter USCGC Galveston Island.

The drills scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday come shortly after monthlong Rim of the Pacific multinational exercises were held in Hawaii. Both Japanese and South Korean forces participated in RIMPAC.

The Pacific Fleet says the drills will help the nations work better together, improve readiness and boost proficiency.