US, South Korea and Japan to hold trilateral drill as North Korea ramps up pressure on US
PUBLISHED Aug 28, 2026, 12:01 AM ET
South Korea, the United States, and Japan will conduct the Freedom Edge trilateral military exercise starting September 7 off Jeju Island. The five-day drill aims to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats and enhance regional stability. The announcement follows North Korea's vow to retaliate against perceived U.S. hostilities and its launch of short-range ballistic missiles. Pyongyang criticized the exercise as a confrontational show of strength designed to pressure regional powers. The trilateral maneuvers proceed despite President Donald Trump scaling back separate bilateral drills with Seoul in an apparent goodwill gesture. North Korea dismissed the reduction as cosmetic, maintaining that it will not resume diplomacy without the abandonment of U.S. denuclearization preconditions. Pyongyang has strengthened its nuclear capabilities and aligned with Russia since the breakdown of 2019 talks. The Foreign Ministry recently condemned potential U.S. arms sales to Seoul, promising a powerful response to ongoing allied military cooperation.
By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News
- Articles Published:
- 31
- Right Leaning:
- 1
- Left Leaning:
- 4
- Neutral:
- 26
- Distribution:
- Left 13%, Center 84%, Right 3%
Left: Emphasizes diplomatic breakdown and risks of escalating regional military tensions. Center: Reports official statements and defense schedules without taking policy sides. Right: Highlights deterrence necessity and firmness against North Korean ballistic threats.
Associated Press published report on trilateral military exercises on August 28. https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-south-drill-japan-trump-kim-a953d60690bf861f134e36a021bdbd70
Coverage of Story:
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Washington, Seoul and Tokyo defy North Korean threats to schedule joint defense drills
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US, South Korea and Japan to hold trilateral drill as North Korea ramps up pressure on US
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