The exercise will focus on training the allies' naval forces on joint precision attacks on North Korea's key military facilities and the regime's leadership that would be launched in the event of a war with the communist country.

Nicknamed a floating air base, the vessel is capable of carrying some 80 combat fighters and aircraft, as well as about 5,400 crewmen.

Powered by two nuclear reactors, the USS Ronald Reagan is part of powerful deterrence assets the US maintains against North Korea's military threats.

Other warships under the Carrier Strike Group Five will accompany the USS Ronald Reagan to the drills, the official said, including the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USS Stethem (DDG-63) and USS Barry (DDG-52) destroyers. 

The forthcoming deployment will serve as the US' military warning against North Korea, which conducted its fifth nuclear test Friday in defiance of the allies' and the international community's calls for denuclearization.

The official said the US is also planning to deploy a slew of other strategic military assets to South Korea, including the B-2 stealth nuclear bomber, down the road in a show of military might against North Korea.

"Both countries' militaries will further improve their capabilities to destroy North Korea's core military facilities in the event of an emergency as the fifth nuclear test made North Korean nuclear threats a reality," the military official said.  (Yonhap)