U.S., S. Korea, Japan Kick Off Trilateral Military Drill

2025-09-15 04:02:40

(MENAFN) The United States, South Korea, and Japan commenced a critical trilateral military exercise on Monday, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to strengthening security cooperation in response to growing threats from North Korea. The joint operation, known as the Freedom Edge exercise, began on September 15 and will run through September 19 in international waters off the southern island of Jeju, South Korea, according to a South Korean news agency.

"The Freedom Edge exercise is conducted through Friday to strengthen capabilities to deter and respond to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats," stated Yang Seung-kwan, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), during a press briefing.

This exercise marks the third iteration of the trilateral drills, following previous rounds in June and November of the previous year. The current session holds particular significance as it is the first such drill since the leadership transitions in the United States and South Korea with President Donald Trump and President Lee Jae Myung taking office.

The multi-domain operation focuses on a range of military training activities, including enhancing ballistic missile defense, conducting air defense exercises, performing medical evacuation drills, and refining maritime interdiction strategies.

Simultaneously, the Freedom Edge exercise is occurring alongside the Iron Mace tabletop exercise between the US and South Korea, which also runs from Monday to Friday. The Iron Mace drill will center on integrating Washington's nuclear assets with Seoul's conventional military capabilities to bolster deterrence against North Korean aggression.

North Korea has vehemently criticized the trilateral military exercises. On Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, condemned the joint drills, warning that the "reckless muscle-flexing" would lead to serious consequences for the participating nations.

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