SOUTH KOREA, U.S AND JAPAN TO HOLD TRILATERAL MILITARY DRILL AMID NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR THREATS. (PHOTO).

South Korea, U.S and Japan to hold trilateral military drill amid North Korean nuclear threats

  South Korea, the United States and Japan will conduct a five-day trilateral military exercise next month as the three countries seek to strengthen their ability to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

The Freedom Edge exercise is scheduled to begin Sept. 7 in waters near South Korea's southern Jeju Island. South Korean military officials described the exercise as defensive and said it is intended to improve security cooperation and promote regional peace and stability.

The planned drill comes as tensions between North Korea and the United States remain high, potentially making an early return to diplomatic talks more difficult. North Korea has repeatedly criticized Freedom Edge, calling it a provocative demonstration of military strength and accusing the participating countries of pursuing broader strategic goals involving China and Russia.

Launched in 2024, Freedom Edge combines air and naval operations involving the three countries. The exercise is designed to improve coordination in areas including ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and other military capabilities.

The announcement follows the early conclusion of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise involving the United States and South Korea. The drill ended six days ahead of schedule after President Donald Trump said he had directed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the exercise, which North Korea considers a rehearsal for an invasion.

Trump cited his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as part of the reasoning behind the move. North Korea, however, rejected the gesture, arguing that shortening the exercise did not change what it considers to be its fundamentally provocative nature.

North Korea subsequently launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently following through on its warning that it would respond to the U.S.-South Korean military activities.

Pyongyang has previously said it would not return to negotiations with Washington unless the United States abandons its demand that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons as a condition for talks.

Diplomatic efforts between Trump and Kim broke down in 2019. Since then, Kim has expanded North Korea's nuclear capabilities and strengthened ties with Russia, including through cooperation related to Russia's war in Ukraine.

With North Korea's military position stronger than it was during earlier negotiations, analysts believe Kim could seek major concessions from Washington in any future talks, including international acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state and significant sanctions relief in exchange for limited reductions to its nuclear program.

Tensions increased further Thursday when North Korea's Foreign Ministry accused the United States of pursuing a series of hostile actions, including a possible sale of air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea. The ministry warned that North Korea would respond forcefully to what it described as hostile acts.