The United States, South Korea, and Japan launched the joint air and sea military exercises under the code name “Freedom Edge” on Monday (September 15) off the coast of Jeju Island in southern South Korea. The exercises are expected to continue until Friday.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that the purpose of this training is to enhance the tripartite joint combat capabilities in the maritime, air, and cyberspace domains. The training encompasses various aspects including ballistic missile defense, air defense, medical evacuation, and maritime operations.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command mentioned that the U.S. deployed Navy Marines and Air Force aviation forces, making it the “most advanced tripartite defense cooperation demonstration” to date.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the exercises through North Korean state media and condemned the “Iron Mace” wargame conducted by the U.S. and South Korea. The exercise focused on further integrating Washington’s nuclear deterrence with Seoul’s conventional capabilities.
These military exercises come amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In recent years, North Korea has responded to the joint military exercises by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea with military drills or weapons tests to showcase its military prowess.
Prior to the trilateral military exercises of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, North Korea announced the completion of the “final ground test” for a “solid-fuel engine” for long-range ballistic missiles. The official report referred to it as “an important step towards a new generation intercontinental missile (i.e., the new ‘Hwasong-20’ missile).”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s relations with Russia have significantly warmed. Multilateral sanction monitoring mechanisms and data from the U.S. Congressional Research Service show that North Korea provided a large quantity of ammunition to Russia in 2024 and transferred over a hundred ballistic missiles.
In April of this year, Pyongyang publicly acknowledged sending thousands of troops to Russia for the first time. Recent intelligence also indicates that North Korean troops suffered significant casualties while fighting in Russia.
At the beginning of this month, Kim Jong Un appeared alongside Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin at a large military parade held in Beijing, highlighting Pyongyang’s strengthening strategic cooperation with China and Russia on the international stage.
The “Freedom Edge” series of military exercises originated from the 2023 U.S.-Japan-South Korea Camp David trilateral summit commitments and have been established as annual routine training exercises, with multiple iterations in 2024. This round of exercises expanded subject areas and enhanced coordination levels to strengthen the tripartite joint capabilities in responding to regional challenges.
(This article referenced reports from the Associated Press and Reuters)