The U.S., South Korea and Japan kicked off their inaugural Freedom Edge multi-domain aerial and naval exercises on Thursday, continuing efforts to bolster trilateral military cooperation over North Korea nuclear threats.

In a press release, the ROK defense ministry stated that the exercises featuring assets including a U.S. aircraft carrier aim to enhance “interoperability” among the three nations and “promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula.”

The three-day Freedom Edge drills come after the three countries’ defense ministers announced plans for the exercises at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 3, in line with agreements