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US, South Korea, Japan Launch 5-Day 'Freedom Edge' Drills Near Jeju
(MENAFN) The United States, South Korea and Japan launched a five-day joint military exercise Monday aimed at strengthening their combined operational and response capabilities across multiple domains, local media reported.
The Freedom Edge exercise began in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island, a South Korean news agency reported, citing a statement from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The drills proceeded on schedule despite President Donald Trump's administration shortening the separate bilateral Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea last month, a move aimed at encouraging North Korea back to the negotiating table.
"The three nations will leverage the drills to enhance operational capabilities and joint response capabilities across multiple domains, including maritime, air and cyber, while maintaining a robust and stable cooperative relationship," the JCS statement said.
The exercise will draw on major naval and air assets from all three countries' armed forces, with a joint exercise control group overseeing operations to ensure they run systematically and safely.
South Korea's military said the trilateral drills are designed to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear and missile threats while preserving regional peace and stability. North Korea has long condemned such allied exercises as war rehearsals.
The three nations plan to deploy six Aegis-equipped destroyers, along with maritime patrol aircraft, fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers, according to sources familiar with the matter.
South Korea's navy is contributing the 7,600-ton ROKS Yulgok Yi I and ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyers, the sources said.
Japan's Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces announced last month it would deploy the 7,700-ton Atago and 5,100-ton Asahi destroyers, along with P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, SH-60K helicopters and F-15 fighter jets.
The US Navy announced on social media last week that its 6,900-ton Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold had arrived at a port in Busan, in South Korea's south — a possible indication it will take part in the trilateral drills.
No US aircraft carrier is expected to join Freedom Edge, sources said, given the ongoing US military engagement against Iran.
The Freedom Edge exercise began in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island, a South Korean news agency reported, citing a statement from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The drills proceeded on schedule despite President Donald Trump's administration shortening the separate bilateral Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea last month, a move aimed at encouraging North Korea back to the negotiating table.
"The three nations will leverage the drills to enhance operational capabilities and joint response capabilities across multiple domains, including maritime, air and cyber, while maintaining a robust and stable cooperative relationship," the JCS statement said.
The exercise will draw on major naval and air assets from all three countries' armed forces, with a joint exercise control group overseeing operations to ensure they run systematically and safely.
South Korea's military said the trilateral drills are designed to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear and missile threats while preserving regional peace and stability. North Korea has long condemned such allied exercises as war rehearsals.
The three nations plan to deploy six Aegis-equipped destroyers, along with maritime patrol aircraft, fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers, according to sources familiar with the matter.
South Korea's navy is contributing the 7,600-ton ROKS Yulgok Yi I and ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyers, the sources said.
Japan's Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces announced last month it would deploy the 7,700-ton Atago and 5,100-ton Asahi destroyers, along with P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, SH-60K helicopters and F-15 fighter jets.
The US Navy announced on social media last week that its 6,900-ton Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold had arrived at a port in Busan, in South Korea's south — a possible indication it will take part in the trilateral drills.
No US aircraft carrier is expected to join Freedom Edge, sources said, given the ongoing US military engagement against Iran.
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