South Korea, the United States and Japan begin their regular multidomain exercise Freedom Edge on the 7th in international waters east and south of Jeju Island.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a press release the same day that major naval and air assets from the three countries will take part in the drills, which run through the 11th.
Six vessels, including Aegis destroyers from the three nations, will participate along with maritime patrol aircraft, fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers, according to the release.
The South Korean Navy is sending the 7,600-ton Aegis destroyers Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong and Yulgok Yi I.
The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet disclosed on social media platform X on the 3rd of this month that the Aegis destroyer USS Benfold, a 6,900-ton vessel, had arrived in Busan, and the ship is seen as a possible participant in the exercise.
Maritime missile defense training involving Aegis ships from all three countries is typically the core of Freedom Edge.
A U.S. aircraft carrier, however, appears unlikely to join for a second consecutive year. Carriers took part in the first and second Freedom Edge exercises held in June and November 2024.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the three countries will strengthen operational capabilities and joint response capacity across maritime, air and cyber domains through the exercise, while maintaining a solid and stable cooperative relationship.
