South Korea, Japan, US to Hold Annual Drills Against Nuclear Weapons Threats, Says Seoul

South Korea, Japan, and the United States will conduct their annual trilateral drills next month to test their readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile weapons threats. The Freedom Edge exercises are scheduled to take place between Sept. 7 and Sept. 11 in the waters off South Korea’s southern Jeju Island. These drills are intended to promote peace and regional stability and are defensive in nature, though Pyongyang has previously criticized them.

• South Korea, Japan, and the United States will conduct annual trilateral drills next month.
• The drills, named Freedom Edge, aim to test readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
• Exercises will be held from Sept. 7 to Sept. 11 in waters near Jeju Island, South Korea.
• The drills are intended to promote peace and regional stability and are defensive.
• North Korea has previously criticized similar drills as a “reckless show of strength.”