US, South Korea agree to suspend joint military exercise
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and South Korea have agreed to suspend a joint military exercise scheduled for August, South Korean and US officials said , following President Donald Trump’s pledge to end “war games” after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week.
“South Korea and the United States have agreed to suspend all planning activities regarding the Freedom Guardian military drill scheduled for August,” according to a South Korean defence ministry statement.
A Pentagon statement confirmed the suspension and added that there would be a meeting between the secretaries of defence and state as well as Trump’s national security adviser on the issue this week.
“We are still coordinating additional actions. No decisions on subsequent wargames have been made,” Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.
Last year, 17,500 American and more than 50,000 South Korean troops participated in the Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, although the exercise is mostly focussed on computerized simulations rather than live field exercises that use weapons, tanks or aircraft.
The US-South Korean exercise calendar hits a high point every spring with the Foal Eagle and Max Thunder drills, which both wrapped up last month.
The decision to halt military exercises in South Korea has bewildered many current and former US defence officials, who only learned about it when Trump made his remarks.