Naval Blockade Drill Is Aimed at North

The United States Department of State announced on October 27 that a “Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Maritime Interception Drill” will be conducted on October 30 and 31 (local time) in the Gulf waters of Bahrain with 25 countries participating.

The Department of State emphasized at the beginning of the announcement that the drill is the first to be held in Gulf waters and the first after the United Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea, Resolution 1718, and South Korea and Japan will be participating.

Nineteen countries including South Korea and Japan are participating as observers; China was not on the announced list.

sechepa@donga.com