US amphibious assault ship joins drills in South Korea

A general view shows the U.S. Amphibious Assault Ship USS Makin Island anchored at a naval base in Busan, South korea, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

BUSAN, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean and U.S. troops launched their largest amphibious landing drills in years involving a U.S. amphibious assault ship, officials said on Thursday, a day after North Korea tested four long-range cruise missiles.

The USS Makin Island docked at a naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan on Wednesday to join the Ssangyong exercise, which kicked off on Monday near Pohang on South Korea's east coast and will last until April 3.