South Korea to ‘carefully consider’ suspending Korea-US military drills: Moon

June 18, 2018

SEOUL – South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in, says his Government will cautiously consider suspending joint military drills with the U.S. as a follow-up action to the North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore. 

“If North Korea sincerely implements denuclearisation measures and faithfully continues talks with South Korea and the United States to help ease hostile relations, it is necessary to flexibly change the military pressure against the North in line with the spirit of building mutual trust as agreed in the Panmunjeom Declaration,” Moon said during a meeting of South Korea’s National Security Council.

 

“We will carefully consider the possibility of suspending Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. 

“Now, peace and development on the Korean Peninsula has to be approached from a more inclusive point of view, moving beyond the security issues of the denuclearisation of the North and the security guarantees

 

“It’s time to embrace the new spirit of the times of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the mutual prosperity of the two Koreas.” 

South Korea’s Minister of National Defence, Song Young-moo, spoke by phone with the U.S. Secretary of Defence, James Mattis, on June 14 to discuss the joint drills. 

“The two Government officials shared their opinions on overall joint military exercises in depth, including the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises,” South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.

 

“They agreed to maintain close co-operation and to meet at the earliest possible date to continue their discussions.”  www.koreanet.kr (ATI).