Korea, the U.S. and Japan conduct ‘Freedom Edge’ multi-domain training in international waters east and south of Jeju

(Fussa <Tokyo, Japan> = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Hyo-jeong = Starting on the 7th, South Korea, the United States, and Japan will conduct the regular multi-area exercise 'Freedom Edge' in the high seas east and south of Jeju.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (Joint Chiefs of Staff) issued a press release on this day and announced that major maritime and air forces from Korea, the United States, and Japan will participate in this exercise, which will run until the 11th.

It is reported that six ships, including ROK-US-Japan Aegis destroyers, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter jets, and aerial refueling aircraft are participating.

It is known that the Korean Navy's 7,600-ton Aegis destroyers, the Seoae Ryu Seongryong and the Yulgok Ii, are participating.

On the one hand, the Aegis destroyer Atago (7,700-ton class), destroyer Asahi (5,100-ton class), P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, SH-60K helicopter, and F-15 fighter jet are participating in this exercise, the Japan Ministry of Defense's Integrated Air Defense Department announced in a press release on the 28th of last month.

In addition, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet announced on the social media platform

Maritime missile defense training conducted with the participation of Aegis ships from the three countries is usually the core of Freedom Edge.

However, it appears that U.S. aircraft carriers will not participate for the second consecutive year following last year. The US aircraft carrier previously participated in the first and second Freedom Edge exercises held in June and November 2024, respectively.

Recently, the U.S. Trump administration dispatched the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington, which was stationed in Japan, to the Middle East amid the prolonged war with Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been operating for a long time in the Middle East, is returning to its home port of San Diego, California, in exchange for the USS George Washington.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also introduced, “(During this training period) we will jointly operate a training control group to systematically and safely control the training.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff added, "Through training, the three countries will strengthen operational capabilities and joint response capabilities in various areas such as maritime, air, and cyber, and maintain a solid and stable cooperative relationship."

Freedom Edge has been held every year in accordance with the agreement between Korea, the United States, and Japan to conduct regular multi-disciplinary exercises at the 2023 Camp David Trilateral Summit. This year is the fourth, and it is believed to be aimed at strengthening interoperability between Korea, the United States, and Japan in various areas.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized, "This training is an annual defensive exercise conducted to improve deterrence and response capabilities to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to protect regional peace and stability while complying with international laws and norms."

While South Korea has emphasized suppressing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats for training purposes, the United States and Japan have appeared to place emphasis on responding to broader regional threats, including China's maritime expansion.

In a press release last month, Japan's Ministry of Unification and Security stated that the purpose of this exercise was "to demonstrate the three countries' firm commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and to contribute to creating a security environment that does not tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force."

The United States also previously emphasized that the development of this exercise and the continued cooperation between the three countries demonstrate "a firm commitment to safeguarding the security of a free and open Indo-Pacific."