Japan's Defense Ministry says its Air Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps conducted joint fighter jet drills on Tuesday over the East China Sea, following North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile.

The ministry says the drills involved a total of 12 jets. It also said the drills confirmed the readiness of Japan and the United States to respond to any threats, and further strengthened the deterrence of the US-Japan alliance amid increasingly difficult security challenges.

Meanwhile, the US and South Korean forces jointly conducted precision bombing training, also on Tuesday, involving four US fighter jets and four from South Korea.

South Korea's military says its drills showcased commitment to "responding sternly to any threats from North Korea" and the possession of "overwhelming capabilities to precisely strike the origin of provocations."