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South Korea, Japan and US set joint drills despite Trump cuts

The three countries will proceed with the multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise near Jeju Island

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South Korea, the US and Japan take part in the Freedom Edge exercise in international waters off South Korea’s Jeju Island in November 2024. Photo: South Korea Defence Ministry/AP
Agence France-Presse
South Korea said on Friday it would hold joint military exercises with the United States and Japan in September, after Washington scaled back annual drills with Seoul in an apparent bid to encourage dialogue with North Korea.
The three countries would conduct the North Korea-focused Freedom Edge exercise from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

“This exercise is a defensive drill conducted annually by the three countries to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and safeguard peace and stability in the region,” the JCS said in a statement.

People watch a television screen showing file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul in August. North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles on August 20. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
People watch a television screen showing file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul in August. North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles on August 20. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

The multi-domain exercise is expected to include maritime missile defence, air and air-defence drills, anti-submarine warfare and cyber defence, according to Seoul’s Yonhap news agency.

Pyongyang had previously slammed the trilateral drill as a “reckless show of strength” that showed its adversaries’ confrontational stance against it. It also said the drill contained a US intention to lay siege to China and exert pressure on Russia.

Freedom Edge was first held in June 2024 following an agreement reached by the leaders of the three countries at their Camp David summit in 2023.

“This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance our shared interoperability and further strengthen our defence partnerships to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific,” said a spokeswoman for the United States Pacific Command, Yonhap reported on Wednesday.

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