S. Korea, US, Japan Launch Freedom Edge Exercise

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) South Korea, the United States and Japan launched their trilateral multi-domain exercise Monday, in what is seen as their continued efforts to deepen security cooperation. The five-day Freedom Edge exercise got under way in international waters east and south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju from Sept. 15–19, according to the South Korean military. The ongoing exercise is the third round of the trilateral drills, following previous rounds of the exercise conducted in June and November last year, respectively.

It is the first such exercise to be held since President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump took office. The Korean military earlier said the three countries will aim to enhance their interoperability to maintain a "solid and stable" trilateral cooperation through the exercise, according to (Yonhap) news agency. The US Indo-Pacific Command said the exercise "demonstrates the countries' shared commitment to collectively achieve and maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific."

The exercise will feature training aimed at sharpening ballistic missile defense capabilities, as well as air defense exercises, medical evacuation training and maritime interdiction operation training, it said.

trilateral Freedom Edge exercise international waters island of Jeju

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