USS George Washington joins drills with South Korea, Japan

Exercises a response to what Seoul calls 'threats' from North

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier sails in the Pacific Ocean waters during the Southern Seas tactical and operational support naval exercises in Buenaventura, Colombia, on June 29. © Reuters

November 13, 2024 11:38 JST

SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's military said it will hold a three-day joint exercise with the United States and Japan starting on Wednesday, featuring fighter jets and marine patrol aircraft as well as the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

The "Freedom Edge" exercise is a response to what the South Korean military said were threats from North Korea, which recently conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test, drawing condemnation from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.