S. Korea, Japan, US to conduct joint drill amid North Korea nuclear threats
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South Korea announced on Friday that it will hold joint military drills with Japan and the United States from September 9 to 11 to assess preparedness against North Korea's missile and nuclear threats.
The annual Freedom Edge drills, described as defensive in nature, are scheduled to take place in international waters south and east of South Korea's Jeju Island, according to a statement from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The trilateral exercise follows a series of recent moves by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump had previously scaled back a major joint drill with South Korea, and the US subsequently cancelled a Marine Corps exercise planned for next month.
Trump cited Seoul's refusal to assist in the Iran war as one reason for the changes, and also stated that this month's Ulchi Freedom Shield drills sent the wrong signal to Pyongyang. The US president has been seeking to arrange a new summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following their two previous meetings in 2018 and 2019.
(Source: Japan Today)
