US and South Korean navies end key exercise amid North Korea tension

US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, right, and South Korea’s landing platform helicopter (LPH) ship Marado, second from left, sail during a joint military exercise (South Korea Defence Ministry/AP)

The US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan has concluded a naval exercise with South Korea in the Philippine Sea, the two militaries said.

It comes amid signs North Korea may be preparing to conduct its first nuclear test explosion since 2017.