Overview

• South Korea says Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise in waters southeast of Jeju, runs Monday to Friday to strengthen maritime, air and cyber defenses against North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats.
• The U.S. and South Korea plan the Iron Mace tabletop next week at Camp Humphreys focused on integrating U.S. nuclear assets with Seoul’s conventional forces under 2024 deterrence guidelines.
• Kim Yo Jong, speaking via KCNA, warned the allies’ “reckless display of power” near North Korea would bring “negative consequences” for themselves.
• Top party official Pak Jong Chon said that if “hostile forces” persist with the drills, North Korea’s countermeasures will be expressed “more clearly and strongly.”
• Seoul and Washington describe the training as defensive to deter North Korea, while analysts say Pyongyang may use it to justify accelerating weapons development or staging major tests later this year.