South Korea, Japan and US Hold September Freedom Edge Drills Near Jeju as North Korea Threats Persist
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 28
South Korea, Japan and US Hold September Freedom Edge Drills Near Jeju as North Korea Threats Persist
3 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 28
Summary
September drills near Jeju Island will bring South Korea, Japan and the US together for the annual Freedom Edge exercise despite President Donald Trump's military spending cuts.
Freedom Edge is framed as a defensive response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, with the exercise aimed at preserving regional peace and stability, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Multi-domain operations are expected to span maritime missile defense, air and air-defense drills, anti-submarine warfare and cyber defense, underscoring the trilateral push for interoperability.
North Korea has denounced the exercise as a reckless show of strength and said it reflects a US effort to besiege China and pressure Russia.
Freedom Edge was first held in June 2024 after the 2023 Camp David summit, and US Pacific Command says the drill will keep strengthening the three countries' defense partnership across the Pacific.