On November 14, 2024, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that South Korea, the United States, and Japan had conducted their second trilateral multi-domain exercise on Wednesday, November 13. This exercise named “Freedom Edge” aimed to demonstrate a united deterrence against the threats posed by North Korea at a time when relations between North Korea and Russia were deepening.
The three-day exercise took place in the international waters south of Jeju Island, a popular resort destination in South Korea. The participating assets included various warships and aircraft, such as the US Navy’s Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, F-35 fighter jets, the South Korean Aegis destroyer “Sejong the Great,” and the Japanese Aegis destroyer “Hatakaze.”
The USS George Washington is a supercarrier measuring 332 meters in length and 78 meters in width, with a flight deck spanning 18,210 square meters. After undergoing a six-year overhaul, it was redelivered to the US Navy last year.
The US Indo-Pacific Command stated in a press release, “This exercise showcased the most advanced air defense capabilities, integrating fifth-generation fighters into a sophisticated multi-domain defense infrastructure. The incorporation of these fighters… ensures that joint forces and self-defense forces can operate together at the highest level to counter any threats.”
North Korea drew condemnation from Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington when it test-fired a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile named “Hwasong-19” at the end of October.
JCS mentioned that the trilateral exercise also included training on sea-based missile defense and cyber defense.
According to the US State Department, North Korean troops have begun participating in the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the US Air Force revealed its plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, also known as the “Warthog,” from critical regions, including South Korea, as part of its modernization strategy in the fiscal year 2025. Resources would be reallocated towards upgrading fourth-generation fighters like the F-16 and F-15, while enhancing the interoperability between fourth-generation and fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 and F-22.
The statement emphasized that the US Air Force’s modernization efforts aimed to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula, through advanced fighter capabilities.
In late June of this year, South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted their first “Freedom Edge” trilateral joint exercise. In 2023, the leaders of the three countries reached an agreement during a summit to hold annual joint military exercises to strengthen military cooperation and enhance their collective ability to counter regional security threats.