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The United States, South Korea, and Japan have begun their Freedom Edge multi-domain aerial and naval exercises to build on trilateral military cooperation in response to North Korean nuclear threats.

The three-day exercises began on Thursday, involving key naval and aerial assets from each nation. The drills began on the high seas south of South Korea’s Jeju Island. They feature maritime missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, search and rescue operations, maritime blockade tactics, and cyber defense and are scheduled to run through Saturday.

According to a press release from the ROK defense ministry, these drills aim to improve “interoperability” among the nations and “promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula.” The ROK defense ministry noted that the three countries plan to expand the scope of the Freedom Edge exercises in the future.

US Indo-Pacific Command released a trilateral statement detailing the participation of some of the military assets involved. They include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, leading the U.S. Carrier Strike Group Nine’s Aegis destroyers USS Halsey and USS Daniel Inouye. Additionally, the US will deploy FA-18 fighter jets, E-2D early warning aircraft, MH-60 helicopters, and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.

South Korea is contributing the Aegis destroyer ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, the destroyer ROKS Gang Gam-chan, KF-16 fighter jets, P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, and Lynx helicopters.

Japan will participate with the Aegis destroyer JS Atago and P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.