S. Korea, U.S. conduct joint naval drill amid nuclear test tension

South Korea and the United States on Monday began a joint naval drill along the eastern coast, military officials said, sending what appears to be a warning to North Korea as it threatens to conduct a third nuclear test.

The three-day exercise kicked off earlier in the day in the East Sea to test the combat readiness of the two allies, in an apparent effort to give a warning to North Korea ahead of its possible nuclear test in the northeastern tip of the country.

Two U.S. ships equipped with long-range cruise missiles -- the USS San Francisco, a 6,800-ton nuclear submarine, and the 9,800-ton Aegis cruiser Shilo -- were mobilized for the exercise held near the eastern port city of Pohang.

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