Seoul, September 07 (QNA) - South Korea, the United States and Japan began a joint five-day military exercise on Monday, proceeding on schedule, despite the recent reduction in the scope of major exercises between Seoul and Washington on the order of US President Donald Trump.
In a press release, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced the launch of the multidomainآ exercises called Freedom Edge in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island.
The three countries will benefit from these exercises to enhance operational and joint response capabilities across multiple domains, including the maritime, air and cyber domains, while maintaining a strong and stable cooperative relationship, the JCS said.
The Korean military said the drills would include key naval and air assets from the armed forces of the three countries, as well as a joint monitoring group to ensure the exercises are carried out systematically and safely.
The JCS confirmed that the exercises are annual drillsآ of a defensive nature, conducted in accordance with international law and standards and will be on a par with previous years in scope and scale.
The second and third editions of Freedom Edge were held in November 2024 and September 2025. (QNA)