Russian military chief criticises U.S., Japan and South Korea drills

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber flies in formation during a joint aerial drill called 'Vigilant Ace' between U.S. and South Korea, South Korea. Picture taken December 6, 2017. The Defense Ministry/Yonhap via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Russia's military chief warned on Monday that military exercises by Japan, the United States and South Korea aimed at countering North Korea only raise hysteria and create more instability in the region.

Russian Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Valery Gerasimov, issued his warning in Tokyo as the United States, Japan and South Korea began a two-day exercise to practice tracking missiles amid rising tension over North Korea's weapons programmes.