South Korea, the United States, and Japan will carry out their annual Freedom Edge trilateral military exercise from 7–11 September in international waters east and south of Jeju Island (a large island off South Korea's southern tip), Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Friday. The multi-domain drills, described by officials as defensive in nature and aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, will feature expanded real-time data sharing, enhanced air defense scenarios, and maritime interdiction operations among the three allies. The announcement is notable given that Washington recently halved its bilateral exercises with Seoul as a conciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang, raising questions about whether the trilateral exercise would proceed — and coming just a day after North Korea threatened retaliation against what it called US hostilities.