South Korea says will hold joint military drills with US, Japan
US military vehicles and US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (top) are seen at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek (AFP Photo)
South Korea said on Aug. 28 that it will hold joint military exercises with the United States and Japan in September, after Washington scaled back annual drills with Seoul in an apparent bid to encourage dialogue with North Korea.
The three countries will conduct the North Korea-focused Freedom Edge exercise from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
"This exercise is a defensive drill conducted annually by the three countries to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and safeguard peace and stability in the region," the JCS said in a statement.
