Overview

• Freedom Edge began Sept. 15 for five days in international waters east and south of Jeju, featuring ballistic missile defense, air defense, medical evacuation and maritime interdiction training, according to the allies.
• Iron Mace, a Monday-to-Friday tabletop drill at Camp Humphreys, focuses on Conventional–Nuclear Integration and rehearses joint planning for deploying U.S. nuclear-capable assets alongside South Korea’s conventional forces.
• Kim Yo Jong warned the drills will bring “negative consequences,” while senior official Pak Jong Chon threatened responses “more clearly and strongly” and labeled Iron Mace an “undisguised nuclear war rehearsal.”
• Seoul, Washington and Tokyo describe the exercises as defensive efforts to improve interoperability and uphold regional stability, continuing cooperation launched at the 2023 Camp David summit and 2024 deterrence guidelines.
• Kim Jong Un’s recent visits to weapons institutes preceded the statements, and analysts say North Korea could use the exercises to justify further demonstrations in the coming months.