Korea-U.S.-Japan Multi-Domain Exercise 'Freedom Edge', Korea-U.S. Nuclear and Conventional Integrated Exercise 'Iron Mace' Conducted

[Financial News] South Korea, the United States, and Japan will conduct the Korea-U.S.-Japan multi-domain exercise '2025 Freedom Edge' in the high seas south of Jeju from the 15th to the 19th, following two exercises last year. Simultaneously, Korea and the U.S. will also conduct the nuclear and conventional integrated tabletop exercise (CNI TTX) 'Iron Mace'.
This exercise is the first to be conducted since the inauguration of the second Donald Trump administration in January this year and the inauguration of President Lee Jae-myung in June. It is observed that the three countries' commitment to continue the Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation policy is reflected, regardless of the change in administration.
On the 15th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "This exercise is conducted in compliance with international laws and norms, to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to protect regional peace and stability as an annual exercise."
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through this Freedom Edge exercise, Korea-U.S.-Japan will enhance operational capabilities in multi-domains such as maritime, air, and cyber, and maintain a solid and stable cooperative relationship among the three countries through improved interoperability.
The Freedom Edge exercise includes △maritime missile defense training △anti-submarine warfare training △air training △air defense training △anti-piracy training △cyber defense training.
Freedom Edge was first conducted in June last year following the agreement to conduct 'multi-domain training' at the 2023 Camp David summit, and the second exercise was conducted in November of the same year.
During the same period, the Iron Mace exercise, led by the U.S. military, will be conducted at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, with the participation of the Korea-U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and Strategic Command. It was conducted twice last year in July and this year in April, and this is the third time.
This exercise is conducted as part of the 'Korean Peninsula Nuclear Deterrence Nuclear Operations Guidelines' agreed upon by the Korean and U.S. military authorities in July last year, and is a discussion exercise to integrate and operate the nuclear and conventional forces possessed by the two countries to respond to and deter North Korean nuclear threats.
In Iron Mace, the joint planning procedures to support Korea's conventional forces when deploying U.S. strategic nuclear assets are practiced. In addition, measures to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and plans to integrate U.S. nuclear forces and Korean conventional forces are discussed.
Meanwhile, North Korea issued a statement on the 14th in the name of Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party Propaganda and Agitation Department, and Park Jeong-cheon, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, opposing Freedom Edge and Iron Mace. Based on the pattern of rhetorical opposition followed by actual provocations, the possibility of North Korean provocations during this exercise period is also raised.


wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yun Reporter