U.S., South Korea and Japan to hold drill as North Korea ramps up pressure on U.S.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan are proceeding with the 'Freedom Edge' military exercise next month to counter North Korean nuclear threats. This move comes despite President Trump's recent efforts to scale back military drills as a goodwill gesture, which North Korea has largely rebuffed.
Why it matters
The persistence of these drills despite diplomatic overtures underscores the ongoing security tensions and the difficulty of denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula.
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will go ahead with a trilateral military drill next month to better deal with North Korean nuclear threats, officials in Seoul said Friday, a day after North Korea vowed to retaliate against what it called U.S. hostilities.
The development further dims prospects for an early resumption of diplomacy between North Korea and the U.S., despite President Donald Trump's recent decision to scale back a major bilateral military drill with South Korea in an apparent goodwill gesture toward the North.
South Korea's military said in a statement the Freedom Edge exercise will start on Sept. 7 for a five-day run in the waters off South Korea's southern Jeju Island.
It said the exercise is defensive in nature and meant to respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats as well as promote regional peace and stability.
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