South korea: South Korea, the United States, and Japan have embarked on a joint five-day military exercise, which commenced on Monday. This exercise proceeds as planned, despite a recent directive from US President Donald Trump that has led to a reduction in the scope of major exercises between Seoul and Washington.
According to Qatar News Agency, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) issued a press release announcing the start of the multidomain exercises named Freedom Edge. These exercises are being conducted in international waters located east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island.
The JCS emphasized that the exercises aim to improve operational and joint response capabilities across various domains, including maritime, air, and cyber. Additionally, they are intended to maintain a robust and stable cooperative relationship among the three countries.
The Korean military outlined that the drills would involve key naval and air assets from the armed forces of the participating nations. A joint monitoring group has been established to ensure the exercises are conducted systematically and without safety issues.
The JCS further clarified that these annual drills are defensive in nature and adhere to international law and standards. The scale and scope of this year's exercises are consistent with those conducted in previous years.
The second and third editions of the Freedom Edge exercises took place in November 2024 and September 2025, respectively.