Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps are conducting joint exercises in southwestern Japan to bolster the defense of remote Japanese islands.



This is the third year in a row that the annual Iron Fist joint drills have been held in the Kyushu and Okinawa regions.



The drills, which are the largest to date and involve about 4,000 personnel, began on February 19.



The media were invited on Saturday to observe a part of an exercise involving around 400 personnel at the US military's Blue Beach Training Area in the town of Kin, Okinawa Prefecture.



The participants simulated retaking an occupied remote island.



Members of the GSDF's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade and US Marines came ashore from reconnaissance boats, followed by GSDF amphibious craft and Japanese and US landing crafts.



At a joint news conference after the event, the head of the GSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Major General Kitajima Hajime, said that strengthening the defense capabilities of remote islands is an urgent issue as such capabilities will deter others from invading the islands and prevent a war from occurring.



He said that conducting the joint drills with the US Marines is very significant.



Commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Brigadier General Trevor Hall, said, "Exercises are most efficient when they are conducted by the forces most likely to operate together in the areas where they are most likely to operate."



He added, "Through our combined capabilities, we provide deterrence to all of threats in this region."