South Korea, Japan, US to hold joint drills against North Korean threats

South Korea, Japan, and the United States are set to conduct joint military drills from September 9 to 11, South Korea announced Friday. The exercises, dubbed Freedom Edge, are designed to enhance readiness against the escalating missile and nuclear weapons threats posed by North Korea.

The annual drills will be held in international waters, located to the south and east of the South Korean island of Jeju, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. These exercises are described as defensive in nature, reflecting the collaborative security posture of the three nations.

The trilateral exercise follows a period of shifting military cooperation dynamics involving the United States. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump had previously scaled back a major joint exercise with South Korea and subsequently canceled a joint Marine Corps drill. Trump had cited, in part, South Korea's perceived lack of assistance in the Iran conflict and suggested that the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills sent an inappropriate message to North Korea, amidst his efforts to arrange a new summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.