The U.S., South Korea and Japan will launch a series of new trilateral drills this summer as the three countries look to strengthen military cooperation against advancing North Korean threats.

ROK Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru released a joint statement announcing a new exercise named “Freedom Edge” after meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on Sunday.