US suspends ‘war games’ with South Korea – but military drills with Japan continue
US and South Korean forces have been training together for years, and routinely rehearse everything from beach landings to an invasion from the North, or even ‘decapitation’ strikes targeting the North Korean regime
South Korea on Tuesday presented a united front with the United States on a decision to call off a major military drill, one week after US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement that he would suspend such exercises with the long-time Asian ally.
Soon after the US and South Korean militaries formally announced the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises slated for August had been called off, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said the decision was necessary to support ongoing talks both countries have with North Korea.
“South Korea and the US made the decision as we believe this will contribute to maintaining such momentum,” said Choi Hyun-soo, the ministry’s spokeswoman.
The announcement was widely anticipated following Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last week.
Trump said after the summit in Singapore that he would suspend the US military’s “war games” with South Korea unless and until the talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme break down.