Japan, the US and South Korea complete the second ”Freedom Edge” training...US and South Korea participate with F-35 fighter jets for the first time

The second Japan-US-ROK multi-domain military exercise this year, "Freedom Edge," ended on the 15th. The three countries conducted a joint exercise in international waters south of Jeju from the 13th to this day.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "The training was conducted in response to North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches and the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
"The drills were conducted with the aim of protecting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region amid increasing security threats, including the strengthening of military forces," he said.
For the first time, the US and South Korean F35 stealth fighter jets, which are highly capable of carrying out the naval exercise, participated in the exercise. In addition, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the USS Yi Jisoo destroyer, and maritime patrol aircraft participated in the exercise, conducting surface, underwater, air and cyberspace operations.
In particular, the drills included maritime missile defense training to improve response capabilities to increasingly sophisticated North Korean nuclear and missile threats.
A total of seven types of training were conducted, including aerial training, maritime offensive and defensive training, anti-piracy training, anti-submarine warfare training, air defense training, and cyber defense training.
Among these, anti-piracy training and maritime offensive and defensive training were conducted for the first time.
The exercise also included the exchange of liaison officers. Meanwhile, "Freedom Edge" is a name that combines the US-ROK joint exercise "Freedom Shield" and the US-Japan joint exercise "Keen Edge."
This signifies the further development of military cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea based on the Korea-South Korea alliance and the Japan-U.S. alliance. Following the agreement reached at the Camp David summit in August last year, Japan, the United States and South Korea held a summit in June this year.
They are currently undergoing training in the "Freedom Edge" technique.