Six Ships from Japan, the U.S., and South Korea Connect in Freedom Edge 2026 as North Korea's New Destroyer Challenges Missile Defense

On September 7, the three countries of Japan, the U.S., and South Korea began a five-day exercise called "Freedom Edge 2026" in the eastern and southern waters off Jeju Island. The announced scale of participation includes six destroyers, a group of aircraft, and approximately 2,300 personnel. The day before the exercise began, North Korea commissioned the approximately 5,000-ton "Kang Gon" destroyer. While the timing may be coincidental, there is no clearer combination that highlights the challenges on the ground.

Decentralized Air Defense Established Even Without an Aircraft Carrier

According to Stars and Stripes, the exercise includes integrated air defense and missile defense, maritime interdiction, cyber operations, defense medical support, and information sharing. It is reported that Japan participated with the "Atago" and "Asahi," the U.S. with the "Benfold," and South Korea with the Sejong the Great-class destroyers. Due to limitations in publicly available information, particularly regarding the name of the sixth ship and the number of each type of aircraft, definitive conclusions should be avoided.

A notable point is the absence of a U.S. aircraft carrier for the second consecutive year. The functions of aircraft, maintenance, and command from the carrier strike group have been decentralized to land-based F-15s, F-2s, E-767s, E-2D early warning aircraft, P-1 patrol aircraft, and aerial refueling aircraft. This is not merely a reduction. It is a more practical training exercise to test whether radar-tracked data can be shared in real-time between Aegis ships at sea and multiple command centers on land.

The Uncertainty Added by the Kang Gon

North Korea claims that its new ship can operate missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. However, the actual nuclear operational capability and sensor performance cannot be verified from the outside. When separating capability from intent, it is more important to note that the burden of detection and interception increases when combined with coastal missiles, submarines, and aircraft, rather than the promotional claims of the ship itself.

On the other hand, the U.S. military explained that viewing the absence of an aircraft carrier as a change in regional commitment is not safe. Considering the global fleet demands, including those in the Middle East, this configuration is better seen as a confirmation of readiness based on limited vessels rather than a permanent model.

Blind Spots Remaining for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

For Japan, the real test is not the number of vessels but the speed of connectivity. Even if the E-767, E-2D, P-1, and Aegis ships share information in the same air and sea space, if the identification, engagement approval, and alternative procedures during communication breakdowns are slow, the concentrated air defense of six ships will not be as strong as the numbers suggest. Moreover, friction remains between Japan and South Korea regarding information operations and political decision-making.

In the author's view, the achievement of Freedom Edge 2026 is not that "we can fight without an aircraft carrier." The key point is visualizing how far Japan, the U.S., and South Korea can maintain the same tactical picture even in the absence of an aircraft carrier. The remaining risk is not the performance of North Korea's new ship, but that political decision-making during a crisis may not keep pace with the speed of sensor updates.

References

• Stars and Stripes, “US, Japan and South Korea launch drills as North Korea unveils nuclear-capable warship,” September 7, 2026
• Army Recognition, “US launches Freedom Edge 2026 with Japan and South Korea amid rising North Korean missile threats,” September 2026
• Public information from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Japan-U.S.-South Korea security cooperation (confirmation of institutional background)