By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the United States announced Monday that their joint military exercise drills will run through the middle of April from later this month.
North Korea watchers are now waiting for Pyongyang to react, and more specifically whether it will retract its commitment to inter-Korean family reunions scheduled for Feb. 20 to 25 at Mount Geumgang, north of the Demilitarized Zone.
Pyongyang threatened last week to nix the reunions, citing U.S. B-52 bomber flights over the Korean peninsula.
According to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises will be conducted from Feb. 24 to March 6 and from Feb. 24 to April 18, respectively.
"We can't rule out that the North may cancel the reunions, accusing the South and the U.S. of preparing an invasion against it," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. A reunion planned for September last year was cancelled by the North at the last minute.
Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said that the future of reunions is becoming more uncertain, given that the joint military drills will partly overlap the timing of the family get-togethers.
"The North may take issue with the latter part of the reunions because they are scheduled to coincide with the exercises," he said. The reunions will come in two parts _ one taking place from Feb. 20 to 22 and the other from Feb. 23 to 25.
The United Nations Command informed the (North) Korean People's Army, Sunday, about both the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise dates, and the non-provocative nature of the training. There was no response from the Stalinist country, according to the South's defense ministry.
Key Resolve is a command-post exercise that ensures the ROK-U.S. alliance is prepared to defend South Korea, while training alliance forces to respond to any potential event on the Korean peninsula.
"Key Resolve is a vital exercise to strengthen the readiness of the Republic of Korea and U.S. alliance. I look forward to training with all of our ROK, U.S. and sending-state participants," said CFC Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti. "The scenarios are realistic, enabling us to train on our essential tasks and respond to any crisis which may arise."
Approximately 5,200 U.S. Forces will participate in the war games, about 1,100 of which will come from off peninsula. Forces from major ROK units representing all services will also participate in this year's exercises.
Foal Eagle is a series of joint and combined field training exercises conducted by the CFC and USFK components spanning ground, air, naval, expeditionary and special operations.
Approximately 7,500 U.S. forces will participate in the drills, about 5,100 of which will come from off peninsula.
Amid growing tensions on the peninsula following the the North's third nuclear test in February of last year, the U.S. dispatched nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers, followed by two F-22 stealth fighter jets. The USS Cheyenne, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, also participated in the exercises.
However, the CFC declined to comment on what the U.S. might bring to Korea this time around.
South Korea and the United States announced Monday that their joint military exercise drills will run through the middle of April from later this month.
North Korea watchers are now waiting for Pyongyang to react, and more specifically whether it will retract its commitment to inter-Korean family reunions scheduled for Feb. 20 to 25 at Mount Geumgang, north of the Demilitarized Zone.
Pyongyang threatened last week to nix the reunions, citing U.S. B-52 bomber flights over the Korean peninsula.
According to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises will be conducted from Feb. 24 to March 6 and from Feb. 24 to April 18, respectively.
"We can't rule out that the North may cancel the reunions, accusing the South and the U.S. of preparing an invasion against it," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. A reunion planned for September last year was cancelled by the North at the last minute.
Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, said that the future of reunions is becoming more uncertain, given that the joint military drills will partly overlap the timing of the family get-togethers.
"The North may take issue with the latter part of the reunions because they are scheduled to coincide with the exercises," he said. The reunions will come in two parts _ one taking place from Feb. 20 to 22 and the other from Feb. 23 to 25.
The United Nations Command informed the (North) Korean People's Army, Sunday, about both the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise dates, and the non-provocative nature of the training. There was no response from the Stalinist country, according to the South's defense ministry.
Key Resolve is a command-post exercise that ensures the ROK-U.S. alliance is prepared to defend South Korea, while training alliance forces to respond to any potential event on the Korean peninsula.
"Key Resolve is a vital exercise to strengthen the readiness of the Republic of Korea and U.S. alliance. I look forward to training with all of our ROK, U.S. and sending-state participants," said CFC Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti. "The scenarios are realistic, enabling us to train on our essential tasks and respond to any crisis which may arise."
Approximately 5,200 U.S. Forces will participate in the war games, about 1,100 of which will come from off peninsula. Forces from major ROK units representing all services will also participate in this year's exercises.
Foal Eagle is a series of joint and combined field training exercises conducted by the CFC and USFK components spanning ground, air, naval, expeditionary and special operations.
Approximately 7,500 U.S. forces will participate in the drills, about 5,100 of which will come from off peninsula.
Amid growing tensions on the peninsula following the the North's third nuclear test in February of last year, the U.S. dispatched nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 stealth bombers, followed by two F-22 stealth fighter jets. The USS Cheyenne, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, also participated in the exercises.
However, the CFC declined to comment on what the U.S. might bring to Korea this time around.
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