(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan highlight firm 3-way security cooperation as joint drills kick off

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(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with remarks from lead commanders in paras 5-13; CHANGES dateline; ADDS byline, photo) By Kim Seung-yeon and Kim Hyo-jung

YOKOTA AIR BASE/SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea, the United States and Japan began a five-day joint military exercise Monday, proceeding on schedule even as key Seoul-Washington drills were recently scaled back upon U.S. President Donald Trump's order.

The multidomain Freedom Edge exercise kicked off in international waters east and south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a press release.

This year's Freedom Edge, its fourth iteration since the inaugural launch in June 2024, is being held to its schedule despite the scaling back last month of the bilateral Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise between South Korea and the U.S.

The UFS was scaled back by half after Trump ordered to reduce the drills, in an apparent conciliatory gesture toward North Korea. Pyongyang has long denounced the allies' drills as war rehearsals.

South Korean and U.S. warships participate in the Freedom Edge exercise in international waters south of Jeju Island on Sept. 16, 2025, in this photo provided by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The drills also coincided with North Korea commissioning its new naval destroyer, the Kang Kon, in a ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong-un the previous day.

Kim vowed to bolster the regime's nuclear capabilities and "prove" them to the world "in eight months," state media reported Monday, possibly hinting at a nuclear-powered submarine development.

"The trilateral Freedom Edge exercise is being executed to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats and that's the main purpose of the exercise," Rear Adm. Kim Ji-hoon of South Korea's JCS said in a press briefing at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo.

"I am sure this will also send a message to the recently constructed ship by North Korea," he said.

In the opening remarks, Kim called the Freedom Edge drills the "most effective" exercise that strengthens deterrence against North Korean threats and one that "visualizes" the trilateral security cooperation between the three nations.

"We will in the future continue to closely coordinate with our U.S. and Japanese counterparts for continued development of the Freedom Edge exercise," Kim added.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander of the U.S. Forces Japan, dismissed concerns over the absence of a U.S. aircraft carrier in this year's Freedom Edge impacting the overall scope and scale of the drills.

"It is not safe to say that this is the new normal," Jost said. "The United States military responds to worldwide needs and it's not reflective of any commitment to this region."

"There have been no changes to the exercise's scope and scale, or training objectives," he noted.

Last year's drills were held without a U.S. aircraft carrier, its first absence since the inaugural drills, as U.S. carrier strike groups were deployed to the Middle East.

Jost said this year's exercise places an emphasis on cyber defense coordination and additional medical training.

In a media readout, South Korea's military said the three nations will leverage the drills to enhance operational readiness and joint response capabilities across multiple domains, including maritime, air and cyber, while maintaining a robust and stable cooperative relationship.

The drills will involve major maritime and air assets from armed forces of the three countries, with a joint exercise control group overseeing the operations for their systematic and safe execution, the JCS said.

The JCS stressed the exercise is an annual drill of a defensive nature, conducted in accordance with international law and norms.

"It is aimed at enhancing deterrence and response capabilities against North Korean nuclear and missile threats, while safeguarding regional peace and stability," it added.

(From R to L) Rear Adm. Kim Ji-hoon of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) director of exercises and training, poses with Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, commander of the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), and Vice Adm. Yoshiyasu Ishimaki, director general of the Operations Department for the Japan Joint Staff, during the launch ceremony for the 2026 Freedom Edge trilateral exercise, at the USFJ Command in Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, on Sept. 7, 2026, in this photo provided by South Korea's JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The JCS did not elaborate on what military assets will participate in Freedom Edge, although a JCS official said earlier the exercise will be on par with previous years in scope and scale.

The three countries will deploy six Aegis-equipped destroyers, along with maritime patrol aircraft, fighter jets and refueling tanker aircraft, sources familiar with the matter said.

The South Korean Navy is deploying the 7,600-ton ROKS Yulgok Yi I and ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong destroyers, according to the sources.

Japan's Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Forces said last month it will deploy the 7,700-ton Atago and 5,100-ton Asahi destroyers, the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, the SH-60K helicopters and F-15 fighter jets.

The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet revealed on social media last week the arrival of its 6,900-ton Arleigh Burke-class USS Benfold at a port in South Korea's southern city of Busan, in a possible sign that it is joining the trilateral drills.

Announcing plans for the 2026 Freedom Edge in late August, the U.S. Pacific Command said the exercise will feature enhanced real-time data sharing and synchronized coordination among the three countries, with enhanced air defense scenarios and maritime interdiction operations.

The second and third Freedom Edge were held in November of 2024 and in September last year.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

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(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan highlight firm 3-way security cooperation as joint drills kick off

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注意：全文更新，第5-13段包含主要指挥官的讲话；更改日期；添加署名和照片）金承妍、金孝贞

横田空军基地/首尔，9月7日（韩联社）——韩国、美国和日本周一开始为期五天的联合军事演习，尽管最近根据美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的命令缩减了首尔和华盛顿之间的一些重要演习，但此次演习仍按计划进行。

韩国联合参谋本部（JCS）在一份新闻稿中表示，多域“自由边缘”演习在韩国南部济州岛以东和以南的国际水域拉开帷幕。

今年的“自由边缘”军演是自2024年6月首次启动以来的第四次演习，尽管上个月韩美两国之间的“乙支自由之盾”（UFS）双边联合军演规模有所缩减，但该军演仍将按计划进行。

在特朗普下令减少联合部队演习后，演习规模缩减了一半，这显然是对朝鲜的一种和解姿态。平壤长期以来一直谴责盟军的演习是战争彩排。

2025年9月16日，韩国和美国军舰在济州岛以南的国际水域参加“自由边缘”联合军演。这张照片由韩国联合参谋本部提供。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

此次演习恰逢朝鲜前一天举行了新型海军驱逐舰“康坤”号的入役仪式，朝鲜领导人金正恩出席了仪式。

据朝鲜官方媒体周一报道，金正恩誓言要加强朝鲜的核能力，并在“八个月内”向世界“证明”这一点，这可能暗示着朝鲜正在研发核动力潜艇。

韩国联合参谋本部少将金智勋在东京附近的横田空军基地举行的新闻发布会上表示：“此次三方‘自由边缘’演习是为了应对朝鲜的核导弹威胁，这是演习的主要目的。”

“我相信这也会向朝鲜最近建造的那艘船发出一个信号，”他说。

在开幕致辞中，金正恩称“自由边缘”演习是加强对朝鲜威胁的威慑的“最有效”的演习，也是“形象化”三国安全合作的演习。

金补充道：“未来我们将继续与美国和日本的同行密切协调，继续推进‘自由边缘’演习。”

驻日美军司令斯蒂芬·乔斯特中将驳斥了有关今年“自由边缘”演习中缺少美国航空母舰会影响演习整体范围和规模的担忧。

乔斯特说：“现在就断言这就是新常态还为时过早。美国军方会响应全球需求，这并不代表美国对该地区有任何承诺。”

他指出：“演习的范围、规模和训练目标均未发生变化。”

去年的演习没有美国航空母舰参加，这是自首次演习以来美国航母首次缺席，因为美国航母打击群被部署到中东。

乔斯特表示，今年的演习重点是网络防御协调和额外的医疗培训。

韩国军方在一份媒体声明中表示，三国将利用此次演习，在包括海上、空中和网络空间在内的多个领域提升作战准备和联合应对能力，同时保持稳固稳定的合作关系。

联合参谋本部表示，此次演习将动用三国武装部队的主要海上和空中力量，并由联合演习控制小组监督演习行动，以确保演习的系统性和安全性。

联合参谋部强调，此次演习是一年一度的防御性演习，是按照国际法和国际规范进行的。

声明还补充说：“其目的是增强对朝鲜核导弹威胁的威慑和应对能力，同时维护地区和平与稳定。”

（从右至左）韩国联合参谋本部演习训练主任金智勋海军少将与驻日美军司令斯蒂芬·乔斯特中将、日本联合参谋本部作战部部长石卷义康海军中将合影。照片拍摄于2026年9月7日，地点为东京附近横田空军基地的驻日美军司令部，当时正在举行“自由边缘”三边联合演习的启动仪式。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

虽然一位联合参谋本部官员此前表示，此次演习的规模和范围将与往年相当，但联合参谋本部并未详细说明哪些军事力量将参加“自由边缘”演习。

据知情人士透露，这三个国家将部署六艘配备宙斯盾系统的驱逐舰，以及海上巡逻机、战斗机和加油机。

消息人士称，韩国海军正在部署排水量为7600吨的“栗谷李一号”和“西爱柳成龙”号驱逐舰。

日本自卫队联合参谋部上个月表示，将部署排水量为7700吨的“爱宕”号驱逐舰和排水量为5100吨的“朝日”号驱逐舰、P-1海上巡逻机、SH-60K直升机和F-15战斗机。

美国海军第七舰队上周在社交媒体上透露，其6900吨级的阿利·伯克级驱逐舰“本福尔德”号已抵达韩国南部城市釜山的港口，这可能是该舰将参加三边联合军演的迹象。

美国太平洋司令部在 8 月下旬宣布了 2026 年“自由边缘”演习的计划，称此次演习将加强三国之间的实时数据共享和同步协调，并增强防空场景和海上拦截行动。

第二届和第三届自由边缘大会分别于 2024 年 11 月和去年 9 月举行。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

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（导语）朝鲜海军服役可携带核弹头的驱逐舰“康坤”号。

等待烟花节

丽水世界岛屿博览会

首尔烟花节

朝鲜接收新型驱逐舰

（第二部分）韩国、美国、日本联合军演拉开帷幕，彰显三方安全合作的稳固地位