- Izumo, a helicopter carrier, is being sent by Japan to protect a US supply ship
- The American vessel is thought to be supplying the USS Carl Vinson strike group
- Deployment marks the first time Japan has used new powers allowing its military to carry out actions that are not strictly in self-defense
- Comes as North Korea threatened to carry out a sixth nuclear test at 'any time'
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Japan is sending its largest warship to protect a US vessel as it resupplies the strike group led by carrier Carl Vinson amid tensions with North Korea.
The 800ft helicopter carrier Izumo left its home port of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Monday to escort the American vessel to the waters off Shikoku, around 400 miles away at the top end of Japan's south island.
The supply vessel, which is not being named, is believed to be in the region to support the 'armada' sent by President Trump to warn Kim Jong-un off conducting a sixth nuclear test.
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Japan has deployed the Izumo (top), its largest ship built since the Second World War, to escort a US supply vessel (bottom) which is believed to be supporting the carrier USS Carl Vinson
The last time the Japanese and American navies were on active deployment in the Pacific together, they were fighting. On Monday carrier Izumo (bottom) guarded a US vessel (top)
The 800ft Izumo, a helicopter carrier, left its port near Tokyo on Monday and is thought to be making a 400 mile trip to the waters near Shikoku alongside the US vessel
The Izumo appears similar to American carriers, but is only designed to use helicopters as it lacks the launch mechanisms to get aircraft into the sky
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