South Korea, Japan, US to launch Freedom Edge trilateral drills

South Korea, the United States, and Japan have commenced their second trilateral multi-domain exercise, dubbed Freedom Edge, aimed at bolstering security cooperation in response to North Korea's escalating missile threats and its deepening ties with Russia. 

The three-day exercise, set to take place in international waters south of South Korea’s Jeju Island, began on November 13, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The military drills follow the inaugural exercise held four months ago, fulfilling an agreement made by the leaders of the three nations during last year’s summit. The exercise will feature various warships and aircraft from all three countries, including the U.S. Navy’s USS George Washington aircraft carrier, South Korea’s ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyer, and Japan’s JS Haguro destroyer.

The JCS detailed that the exercise will cover a broad range of operational areas, such as air defence, ballistic missile defence, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and defensive cyber training. These efforts are part of the allies' strategy to strengthen deterrence against North Korea’s provocative military actions.

"The three nations have strongly condemned North Korea's provocative acts, including the test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), that threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and within the region," the JCS stated. "The exercise reflects the will to deter and respond to such threats."

This trilateral exercise comes in the wake of North Korea's test-launch of its new Hwasong-19 ICBM on October 31, which Pyongyang described as the "ultimate" version of its long-range missile series. The Hwasong-19 reached the highest altitude and longest flight duration among North Korea's missile tests, further heightening tensions in the region.

The drills also coincide with growing concerns over North Korea’s reported troop deployment to Russia, potentially intensifying Moscow's prolonged conflict with Ukraine. Analysts suggest that the Pyongyang-Moscow military alignment could pose broader security challenges for the region.

The trilateral exercises were formalized during a landmark summit at Camp David in August last year, where South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to hold regular, named multi-domain drills to counter North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats. This initiative was further reinforced by the signing of the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework in July, aimed at institutionalizing joint defence efforts among the three nations.

The Freedom Edge exercise underscores the deepening security partnership among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan as they continue to navigate the complex security landscape in East Asia, particularly with the rising threat from North Korea and its burgeoning alliance with Russia.

By Khagan Isayev