A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier reportedly conducted a joint military exercise with naval ships from Japan and India near the East Sea early this month.
 
The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun on Tuesday quoted the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as saying that the trilateral drill took place between last Friday and Monday, involving the USS Ronald Reagan as well as a Japanese frigate and a frigate and a corvette from India.
 
Yomiuri noted that it is the first time a country other than South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have joined a drill conducted near the East Sea.
 
The Japanese newspaper reported the drill was intended at building a wider international alliance to deal with North Korea as U.S. President Donald Trump is on a tour of Asia to help address the issue, among other things.
 
Yomiuri added the Indian naval vessels finished a joint drill with Russia in Vladivostok late last month and were returning home before joining the joint exercise with the U.S and Japan. 

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