South Korea, U.S., and Japan hold joint air drills amid Seoul’s push for North dialogue

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan held their first joint air drills since President Lee Jae Myung took office, signalling security cooperation even as Seoul seeks renewed dialogue with North Korea.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan carried out joint air drills on Wednesday over waters near South Korea’s southern island of Jeju, marking their first trilateral exercise since January 15 and the first under South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

According to South Korea’s Air Force, the exercise featured two South Korean F-15K fighter jets, six US F-16s, and two Japanese F-2 jets. The drills come amid growing regional security concerns tied to North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile capabilities.

The joint exercise took place shortly after President Lee, who assumed office earlier this month, pledged to ease tensions with Pyongyang and restart inter-Korean dialogue. On June 12, he said his administration would strive for “peace, coexistence, and prosperity” on the Korean Peninsula.

Despite the diplomatic overtures, Seoul’s Air Force said the drills aim to “deter North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats” and “maintain peace and stability” in the region.

The military also noted that similar drills would continue, reinforcing the “firm South Korea-U.S. alliance” and broader trilateral security ties with Japan.

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