The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States and Japan pledged to continue working together toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, amid discussions about a possible shift in the role of U.

South Korea, Japan and the United States conducted a joint air drill on Friday involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber and fighter jets of the three allies over international waters, the South's defence ministry said.

The development came Friday as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was to travel to North Korea amid booming military and other cooperation between the two countries that have raised concerns among their neighbors.

North Korea continues to give the United States the cold shoulder, despite President Donald Trump's apparent willingness to resume dialogue with the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un. State media has branded Washington a "hostile force" after Trump expressed confidence in his ability to end a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea will follow terms previously agreed with the United States on defense cost sharing, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, following a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for Seoul to pay more for the U.

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea slammed on Friday the Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia for insisting North Korea denuclearise, according to its state media KCNA. North Korea also said the U.S. fabricated a "cyber threat" from North Korea, citing its Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Russia and North Korea are meeting for a three-day visit that is already sending other countries into a tailspin, as World War 3 fears mount.