South Korea, Japan, and the United States will hold joint military exercises from September 9 to 11 to test their readiness against North Korea's missile and nuclear threats.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement on the 28th noting that this annual exercise, named "Freedom’s Edge," is defensive in nature and will take place in international waters south and east of Jeju Island in southern South Korea.
Before the trilateral military exercise, U.S. President Trump reduced the scale of the "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" drills with South Korea. The U.S. subsequently canceled a marine corps joint exercise that was originally scheduled for next month.
Trump believed that the "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" exercises sent the wrong message to North Korea. He has been trying to hold a new summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Trump and Kim Jong-un met in 2018 and 2019.