The three countries will conduct the North Korea-focused Freedom Edge exercise from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The JCS described the exercise as a defensive drill held annually to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and safeguard regional peace and stability.

The multi-domain exercise is expected to include maritime missile defense, air and air-defense drills, anti-submarine warfare and cyber defense, Yonhap news agency reported. Freedom Edge was first held in June 2024 following an agreement reached by the three countries' leaders at their 2023 Camp David summit. Lt. Cmdr. Chloe Morgan, a spokesperson for the US Pacific Command, said the exercise will reinforce shared values, enhance interoperability and strengthen defense partnerships throughout the Pacific. The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump this month ordered the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield drills cut from 11 days to five, describing the exercises as "very insulting" to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and noting Kim had been "very well behaved," as Washington seeks to revive dialogue with Pyongyang. South Korea also said Monday the US had cancelled the biennial Ssangyong exercises due to force availability constraints caused by the war with Iran. Despite Trump's overtures, North Korea has shown little sign of reciprocating, firing missiles and condemning the scaled-down drills, Washington's approval of arms sales to South Korea, and plans to fund programs documenting human rights abuses in the North. (Bssnews)