The House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) made the following statement today after the United States, Japan and South Korea engaged in their first joint ballistic missile defense exercise in Hawaii.

"These drills are an important demonstration of the strength of America's bilateral alliances with the Republic of Korea and with Japan. They are also a prelude to the possibility of what our three countries could do together, through step-by-step integration, to create a powerful defensive shield to counter North Korea's provocations and a deterrent against others who may threaten our peoples," Chairman Rogers said.

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