Freedom Edge 2025: US, South Korea, Japan Begin Joint Drills

South Korea, USA and Japan launched their five-day trilateral exercise Freedom Edge 2025 on 15 September in waters near Jeju Island. This is the first such drill since South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump took office. The exercise covers naval, air and cyber operations, including missile defense, air defense, medical evacuation and maritime security, aimed at boosting interoperability against North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.