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South Korea, U.S. and Japanese warships launched their first anti-submarine drills in five years on Friday, after North renewed ballistic missile tests this week in an apparent response to bilateral training by South Korean and U.S. forces, Associated Press reported.

The North’s recent five missiles launches, the first such tests in a month, also came before and after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harrisvisited South Korea on Thursday and reaffirmed the “ironclad” U.S. commitment to the security of its Asian allies.

The one-day trilateral training off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast is meant to cope with a North Korean push to advance its ability to fire missile from submarines, according to a South Korean navy statement.

North Korea has been building bigger submarines including a nuclear-powered one and testing sophisticated missiles that can be fired from them in recent years. That’s an alarming development for its rivals because it’s harder to detect underwater-launched missiles in advance. Friday’s drills involve the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as well as U.S., South Korean and Japanese destroyers, the navy statement said.

During the training, the navy ships from the three nations were to search and track a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine posing as a North Korean submarine while exchanging related information, according to media reports.

“We will respond and neutralize any forms of North Korean provocations in an overwhelming and decisive manner,” Capt. Cho, Chung-ho, commander of South Korean navy troops who took part in the training, was quoted as saying in the statement.

In addition to its submarine-launched missiles, North Korea has also a variety of nuclear-capable missiles that place both the United States and its allies South Korea and Japan within striking distance. This year, North Korea has performed a record number of missile tests as it refuses to resume long-stalled nuclear diplomacy with the United States, according to Associated Press.

Friday’s three-nation training comes as South Korea and Japan are looking to mend ties frayed over history and trade disputes. The two Asian countries together host a total of 80,000 American troops. Earlier this week, the Reagan took part in joint U.S.-South Korean drills near the peninsula, the first such bilateral involving a U.S. aircraft carrier since 2017.

The North’s most recent missile tests happened on Thursday, hours after Harris left South Korea. During her visit to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, Harris said: “In the South, we see a thriving democracy. In the North, we see a brutal dictatorship.”

Two lawmakers of Madhesh Province among 11 leaders of the CPN (Unified Socialist) returned to their mother party, CPN -UML, amidst a program at the party’s central office in Chyasal on Thursday. CPN (US) central member and Province Assembly member Sundar Bishwokarma and incumbent Province Assembly member and a member of Central Election Commission Sita Gurung among other returned to the UML. Similarly, Central Council members Kaushal Kishor Singh, Madhesh Bishwokarma, Madhesh Pradesh Committee members Dashrath Ram, Bidhya Thapa, Min Rahapal, District Committee members Manju Khanal, Manju Bhattarai, Achhelal Ram, and Mukti Sahani returned to their mother party today. UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli welcomed them in the party. Meanwhile, the CPN (US) has appointed Bijendra Chaudhary as the acting chairman after the party’s district committee joined the UML.    

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha has claimed Nepali sky to be safe. He said this in his address to the 41st general assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Addressing the general assembly underway in Montreal city of Canada on Wednesday, Minister Shrestha said that Nepal has made remarkable progress in aviation safety as per the ICAO-determined standards and recommendations, the private secretariat of the minister shared. Tourism Minister Shrestha claimed that Nepali sky was safe as the country had gained a higher score on aviation safety in comparison to the global standards. He reiterated Nepal government's commitment to make the aviation sector secure, reliable and qualitative. There was no alternative to air travel taking into consideration the geographical situation of Nepal, he said, adding the government was fully committed to make the aviation service more secure, qualitative and effective. Sharing that the Gautam Buddha International Airport had already come into operation and Pokhara International Airport was in the final phase of its construction, he said the government had laid emphasis on expanding air connectivity, up-grading airports and constructing new airports.

Chief Minister of Bagmati Province Rajendra Prasad Pandey has been bereaved of his mother. She was 87. CM Pandey's mother Manamaya Pandey breathed her last on Thursday. Manamaya died at Sitapaila, Kathmandu at 3 am today, said Chief Minister's personal secretary Umesh Rupakheti. The late Pandey is survived by five sons, including CM Pandey, CPN-UML leader Surendra Pandey and three daughters. Her last rites would be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat today, family sources said.