She visited Singapore in June and then sailed to Australia where she participated the Talisman Saber exercise with Australian and other forces in July. She then made a port visit to Brisbane before returning to Japan on 9 August. On 8 September she departed Yokosuka again to conduct patrols off Korea after the North Korean missile launch over Japan and nuclear test. On 2 October the ship visited Hong Kong. She then participated in drills with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force off Okinawa. After that, "Ronald Reagan" participated in drills off the Korean peninsula with the South Korean Navy. After the drills, she made a port visit at Busan in South Korea.