US, Japan Hold Joint Military Drills in Response to North Korean Missile Launch

The 5th and 8th Air Wing of Japan Air Self-Defense Force's F-15 and F-2 fighters hold a joint military drill with U.S. Marine Aircraft Group 12's F-35B fighters off Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu in this handout picture released Oct. 4, 2022. Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/Reuters

The United States and Japan deployed fighter jets for joint exercises on Oct. 4 in response to North Korea’s test-firing of a ballistic missile over Japan.

The drills were held in airspace west of Japan’s Kyushu region, involving eight Japanese fighter jets and four U.S. fighter jets, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.