Amid heightened tensions in the region, missile defence exercises were carried out, which included two warships from the US, a South Korean destroyer and two Japanese destroyers. The exercise took place just hours after North Korea launched a missile over Japan. Pyongyang has recently launched a number of missiles.

According to the US Pacific Command, the trilateral exercise demonstrates the nations' relationship and enhances the forces' strength. Security officials from South Korea previously said that a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group moved towards the water in the Korean Peninsula.

All about Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system

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Iron Dome intercepts rockets

According to a report by AFP, Israel's much-vaunted Iron Dome missile defence system is intercepting a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas and other Palestinian militants from Gaza as bloody clashes escalate. According to the Jewish state's army, hundreds of rockets which have been fired since Monday have been shot out of the sky by the system.

Up and running

They claim that multiple rockets fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory exploded inside the Gaza Strip. The Israeli-designed Iron Dome system is meant to protect populated areas and critical assets by neutralising short-range aerial threats. The first battery was deployed in March 2011 near the southern city of Beersheva -- 40 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, and a favourite Hamas target -- to combat Soviet-designed Grad rockets fired from the Palestinian territory.

How it works

Israel now has 10 such batteries. The head of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, Moshe Patel, said that up to January Iron Dome had intercepted over 2,400 projectiles during the past decade. With each launch costing reportedly almost $50,000, he told the Times of Israel that it had "saved hundreds of lives". Each battery has a radar detection and tracking system, a firing control system and three launchers for 20 interceptor missiles. Each has a range of between four and 70 kilometres.

How US helped

Iron Dome was developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, a state-owned arms company based in the northern city of Haifa. But it is also partly funded by the United States, which committed $5 billion to its development costs in 2016. It is one of the strategic pillars of the US-Israeli alliance which has been followed by successive Democratic and Republican administrations.

More Iron Domes needed

In August 2019 the US Army signed a contract to purchase two Iron Dome batteries to enhance its own short-range missile defence capabilities. Israel has other missile defence systems such as the Arrow, to counter ballistic missiles, and David's Sling, for medium-range rocket or missile attacks. Military experts say 13 Iron Dome batteries are needed to be able to defend the whole of Israeli territory, with its tense border with Syria also particularly at risk of attack.

National Security Council (NSC) of South Korea conducted an emergency meeting once the missiles over Japan were launched. It was the sixth missile launch in only a dozen days. The NSC said that the provocation by North Korea would be met with a more robust response after its latest missile launch over Japan.

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South Korea, Japan, US perform missile defence exercises as North's threat grows with every successful test

According to the US-Indo Pacific Command, South Korea, Japan, and the US took part in missile defence exercises just a couple of days after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan. The three nations performed the exercise on Thursday in the Sea of Japan.

All about Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system

Iron Dome intercepts rockets

Up and running

How it works

How US helped

More Iron Domes needed

FAQs

Read More News on

South Korea, Japan, US perform missile defence exercises as North's threat grows with every successful test

According to the US-Indo Pacific Command, South Korea, Japan, and the US took part in missile defence exercises just a couple of days after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan. The three nations performed the exercise on Thursday in the Sea of Japan.

All about Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system

​Iron Dome intercepts rockets

​Up and running

​How it works

​How US helped

​More Iron Domes needed

FAQs

Read More News on

Iron Dome intercepts rockets

Up and running

How it works

How US helped

More Iron Domes needed