Archive · 1 Sep 2026
South Korea Keeps Trilateral Drills Despite North Korean Criticism
South Korea, the United States, and Japan plan to hold military exercises together.
The exercise is called Freedom Edge.
It is scheduled for September 7-11 near Jeju Island.
South Korea says the drills are defensive and designed to respond to North Korean weapons threats.
North Korea says exercises like this look like preparations for war.
North Korea also says tensions will not improve while Washington keeps what it calls a hostile policy.
South Korea says there are currently no changes to the schedule.
Some experts think North Korea may be testing whether the United States will change its military plans to reopen talks.
South Korea said the upcoming Freedom Edge exercise with the United States and Japan will proceed as scheduled.
The multidomain exercise is planned for September 7-11 in international waters near South Korea’s Jeju Island.
North Korea called the drills evidence of Washington’s hostile policy and warned they would not ease tensions.
South Korea described Freedom Edge as an annual defensive exercise addressing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
Experts said North Korea’s statement may test whether Donald Trump would alter military commitments with Seoul to restart dialogue.
- Who
- South Korea, the United States, Japan, and North Korea are the principal parties.
- What
- South Korea reaffirmed that the Freedom Edge trilateral military exercise will proceed as scheduled despite North Korean criticism.
- When
- The exercise is scheduled for September 7-11; South Korea made its reaffirmation on Tuesday after North Korea’s statement on Monday.
- Where
- In international waters east and south of South Korea’s southern island of Jeju.
- Why
- South Korea says the exercise counters North Korean nuclear and missile threats and supports regional peace and stability; North Korea says such drills reflect hostility toward it.
South Korean and Allied Position
North Korean Position
Purpose of the exercise
South Korean and Allied Position
South Korea says Freedom Edge is an annual defensive drill intended to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats and safeguard regional peace and stability.
North Korean Position
North Korea describes the allies’ military drills as war rehearsals and says Freedom Edge reflects hostility toward Pyongyang.
Effect on regional tensions
South Korean and Allied Position
South Korea is maintaining the exercise as part of enhanced trilateral security cooperation among the three countries.
North Korean Position
North Korea says it is pointless to expect tensions on the Korean Peninsula to ease while Washington maintains what Pyongyang calls a hostile policy.
Potential dialogue implications
South Korean and Allied Position
Some experts view the exercise as a continuing military commitment among the allies, although Seoul and Washington recently reduced another exercise.
North Korean Position
Some experts believe North Korea’s criticism may test whether Donald Trump would modify a military commitment with South Korea to resume dialogue with Kim Jong-un.
- Exercise
- Freedom Edge
- Participants
- South Korea, the United States, and Japan
- Scheduled dates
- September 7-11
- Location
- International waters east and south of Jeju Island
- Planned iteration
- The exercise is described as the fourth iteration this year.
- South Korean position
- There are no changes to the schedule so far.
- Related exercise
- Seoul and Washington recently scaled back Ulchi Freedom Shield after Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in drills.