(VOVworld) - South Korea and the United States conducted a combined maritime exercise in the eastern sea of South Korea.

South Korean and US forces in joint maritime drill (Photo: wsj.com)

The US Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance and US P-3 patrol aircraft joined South Korea's Navy's Aegis destroyer Yulgok YiYi, submarines, and anti-submarine helicopters in the drill. Rear Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Naval Forces Korea, said the US will stand side by side with South Korea to defend against any North Korean unprovoked acts of aggression. Vice Admiral Lee Ki-sik, commander of the South Korean Fleet, said the two allies will always be ready to deter aggressive acts and defeat North Korea.