DHAKA: South Korea, the US and Japan have conducted their first joint missile-tracking drill, in the waters off the US state of Hawaii.

The move follows North Korea's repeated tests in recent months of mid-range ballistic missiles, BBC reports on Wednesday (June 29).

Most tests have ended in failure, but the apparent success of the sixth last week alarmed the region.

North Korea, which has also conducted four nuclear weapon tests, said that the drills were ‘military provocation’.

State media said that the US and other ‘hostile forces’ were a ‘constant threat’ to North Korean security and reinforced its commitment to pursuing ballistic and nuclear weapons.

BDST: 1151 HRS, June 29, 2016
SAS/AKA