Inada and Mattis shared the view at a meeting in Singapore on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

As part of a coordinated effort to deter provocations by North Korea, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and Air SDF fighter jets started a joint drill on Thursday with US attack fleets led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson in the Sea of Japan, which separates Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

At their meeting, Inada and Mattis agreed that the recent series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea are impermissible, terming them clear provocations against regional peace and stability.

In defiance of international criticism, North Korea has already fired ballistic missiles nine times this year.

Referring to the dispatch of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to the Sea of Japan, Inada told Mattis that Japan highly appreciates the visible commitment of the United States to regional peace and stability. (Jiji Press)