U.S., S. Korea tone down joint-military exercises

SEOUL, Mar 4, 2019, Kyodo. The United States and South Korea launched a smaller-scale combined military exercise on Monday to aid diplomatic efforts on North Korea’s denuclearization, reported the Kyodo.

The nine-day training through March 12 called “Dong Maeng,” or “alliance”, replaces the major springtime military exercises that North Korea has long viewed as preparations for an invasion of it.

U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said saving money was the reason for cancelling the “Key Resolve” and “Foal Eagle” maneuvers.

“The reason I do not want military drills with South Korea is to save hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. for which we are not reimbursed,” Trump tweeted Monday, Seoul time.

“That was my position long before I became president. Also, reducing tensions with North Korea at this time is a good thing!”

The United States and South Korea said Saturday they will end the two key military exercises.

That agreement was reached between U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong Doo, days after the second summit between Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi.

Shanahan and Jeong “made clear that the Alliance decision to adapt our training program reflected our desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner,” the U.S. Defense Department said in a statement.

On Sunday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Dong Maeng exercise will be held from Monday in place of the computer-simulated command-post Key Resolve exercise.

The South’s Defense Ministry confirmed the start of the new exercise on Monday morning.

The allies are expected to conduct low-key battalion or lower-level maneuvers in place of “Foal Eagle” field exercises throughout the year.

Asked about any potential impact the policy shift may have, Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said he believes Washington’s commitment to the defense of its allies, including Japan, remains unchanged.

“We intend to continue to work closely with the United States and South Korea to realize regional peace and stability,” the chief Cabinet secretary told a press conference in Tokyo.