A curious deployment, which was just in a BBC News report. Why a helicopter carrier to escort a supply ship? Leaving politics aside.

What does this 'helicopter destroyer' contribute: ASW helicopters, SAR, CIWS, radar and the like. See:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JS_Izumo

Is there a NK submarine threat?

Thanks to Google there is another helicopter carrier in Japan, a French Mistral class ship; there for separate multi-national exercises this month at Tinian island. See: https://www.rt.com/news/386592-frenc...l-drill-japan/ or http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39768110