One of the reasons such exercises haven't been engaged before is because the region is sensitive. When the Cold War was real, the region was basically off limits to such exercies. We have come a long way, especially considering North Korea is threatening nuclear brinkmanship. It would seem as though the 'trust' between the USA, Russia and China has significantly improved.
I believe these exercises are vital to the security of the region and the USA. The cited article is from "Haaretz" which would indicate USA allies are paying attention to the success of the exercise and the cooperation of the nations of the region.
...An international investigation has blamed the North for the sinking of a South Korean warship, (click title to entry - thank you) killing 46 sailors in what officials called the worst military attack on the South since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The four-day "Invincible Spirit" exercises involving 20 ships and submarines, 200 aircraft and 8, 000 troops come were conducted amid flourishes of rhetoric typical of the North Korean regime, which vowed to respond with "a sacred war and a powerful nuclear deterrence."
They will face a costly consequence if they stick to the criminal activities ravaging peace and security on the Korean peninsula, North Korea's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in commentary carried Monday by the official Korean Central News Agency. North Korea says the investigation results were fabricated and has accused the United States of attempting to punish it....
