Japan destroyers to start joint drill with US carrier group from Sunday

TOKYO - Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyers are to begin a joint drill with the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson Strike Group in the western Pacific Ocean from Sunday, Japan's defense ministry said.

The two Japanese destroyers, "Samidare" and "Ashigara," which departed from Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture on Friday, will join the US carrier strike group for trainings on tactics and communications, according to the defense ministry.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will head to waters off the Korean Peninsula after the joint drill which is to last for several days, according to local reports.

US Vice President Mike Pence said in Australia on Saturday that the strike group will arrive in the Sea of Japan by the end of this month.