SEOUL: The United States, South Korea and Japan started major new military exercises on Thursday to bolster their defence capabilities against escalating threats from North Korea, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.
The drills, named “Freedom Edge,” are designed to enhance cooperation in ballistic missile and air defences, anti-submarine warfare, and defensive cyber training, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The trilateral drills come in the wake of a summit held last year by the leaders of the three nations, where they agreed to conduct annual exercises to showcase their unity against North Korea’s nuclear threats and the growing regional influence of China. The exercises are scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
The military assets involved in the “Freedom Edge” exercises include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japan’s guided-missile destroyer JS Atago, and South Korea’s KF-16 fighter jets, among others.
In preparation for the drills, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which docked in the southern port of Busan over the weekend. The presence of this aircraft carrier, one of only two in the world that use nuclear energy for propulsion, allows it to operate for extended periods without the need for refueling.
The arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt has provoked a stern reaction from North Korea. Pyongyang criticized the drills, perceiving them as potential rehearsals for an invasion, and threatened to demonstrate its “overwhelming and new deterrent force.”
The announcement of the drills coincides with North Korea’s claim that it has successfully tested its multiple-warhead missile capability, heightening tensions in the region. The timing of these events highlights the volatile security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the broader East Asian region.
