Three countries will conduct North Korea-oriented exercises “Freedom Edge” from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island, the Seoul Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced.
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“These exercises are defensive training conducted annually by the three countries to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and to ensure peace and stability in the region,” the JCS statement said.
It is expected that the multi-domain exercises will include maritime missile defense, air and air defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare, and cyber defense, reported Seoul news agency Yonhap.
The “Freedom Edge” exercises were held for the first time in June 2024, after the three countries’ leaders reached an agreement at the 2023 summit in Camp David.
“These important multi-domain exercises will continue to strengthen our shared values, improve our interoperability, and further enhance our defense partnership to ensure peace and stability throughout the Pacific,” said Commander Lieutenant Chloe Morgan, spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Command, on Wednesday, Yonhap reported.
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This announcement was made after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered this month to shorten the annual “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercises from 11 to five days.
At the time, Trump said the exercises were “very offensive” to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and claimed that the latter behaved “very well” as Washington sought to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
South Korea announced on Monday that the U.S. canceled other joint maneuvers – the biennial “Ssangyong” exercises – due to a shortage of forces caused by the war with Iran.
Despite Trump’s moves, North Korea has not shown major retaliatory actions, launched missiles, and condemned the reduced exercises, as well as Washington’s approved arms sales to South Korea and plans to fund programs documenting human rights violations in Pyongyang.
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