South Korea, Japan and the United States will conduct joint military exercises next month as the three allies step up their readiness against potential missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.
The annual Freedom Edge exercise is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 11 in international waters south and east of South Korea’s Jeju Island, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Friday.
The drills are described as defensive in nature and are intended to strengthen the three countries’ ability to respond to security threats from Pyongyang.
The upcoming exercise comes amid changes to joint military training between the United States and South Korea. US President Donald Trump recently ordered a reduction in a major joint exercise with Seoul, while Washington also cancelled a Marine Corps drill with South Korea that had been planned for next month.
Trump cited several reasons for scaling back the exercises, including Seoul’s decision not to provide assistance in the US war with Iran. He also argued that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises held this month could send the wrong message to North Korea.
Despite the adjustments to some bilateral exercises, the Freedom Edge drills highlight continued military cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo at a time of heightened regional security concerns.
The three countries have increasingly worked together to monitor and respond to North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes, with joint exercises forming part of their efforts to improve coordination.
The latest drills will also come as Trump continues efforts to arrange another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump and Kim previously met at summits in 2018 and 2019, but those talks failed to produce a lasting agreement on North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
The planned exercises are therefore expected to draw close attention from Pyongyang, particularly as Washington seeks to balance military deterrence with Trump’s renewed push for engagement with Kim.
