Russia tests submarine-launched missiles in Sea of Japan

Japans government says it is closely viewing military activities by Russia following reports it carried out tests of submarine-launched missiles in the Sea of JapanBy MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated PressApril 14, 2022, 1:47 PM – 2 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleTOKYO– Japans government said Thursday it is closely enjoying military activities by Russia following reports it conducted tests of submarine-launched missiles in the Sea of Japan, in its latest military workouts off the Japanese coast following its intrusion of Ukraine.The missile tests came a day after the U.S. Navys 7th Fleet and Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force revealed joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan.Russias ITAR-Tass news company reported that two diesel-powered submarines from the Russian Pacific Fleet successfully introduced Kalibr cruise rockets at a marine target during the exercises Thursday. Japanese media carried similar reports.Tass stated the target was a ship structure imitating an enemy vessel, and the exercise involved more than 15 warships from its Pacific Fleet and warplanes.The Kalibr cruise rocket is developed to fly at subsonic speeds and can strike targets as far as 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away, Tass said.”Russia has intensified its military activities by deploying its most current equipment and training and performing workouts around Japan,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated. He said Japan is carefully seeing Russian activity, however would not provide further details, saying “doing so would reveal Japans info gathering capability.”In late March, Russia held big military drills including 3,000 troops on islands that are likewise claimed by Japan, triggering a protest from Tokyo.The dispute over the islands, which Moscow took at the end of World War II, has avoided the 2 nations from signing a peace treaty officially ending their wartime hostilities. In evident retaliation for Japans imposition of sanctions versus Russia for its intrusion of Ukraine, Moscow revealed it will cease talks on a peace treaty with Tokyo.On Wednesday, the U.S. 7th Fleet and Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force said they are conducting their very first joint marine workouts in the Sea of Japan given that 2017. The workouts, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln warship strike group, apparently are a demonstration of the two nations close military alliance in the middle of growing speculation of a North Korean rocket or nuclear test as early as this week. Friday is the 110th birthday of late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and is the countrys crucial anniversary.