By Yi Whan-woo
Former U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commanders have thrown their support behind President Moon Jae-in’s call to delay annual military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. until after the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
According to Voice of America (VOA), Wednesday, Burwell Bell, James Thurman and John Tilelli _ all retired U.S. Army generals _ said it was important not to disrupt the Olympics and that it was “legitimate and sound” to consider postponing the joint drills.
Bell led the USFK from 2006 to 2008, Thurman from 2011 to 2013 and Tilelli from 1996 to 1999.
“It’s not good to be conducting military exercises when you’re bringing in hundreds, even thousands of athletes from over a hundred countries around the world,” Bell said.
“So the whole issue of postponing the military drills-exercises between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States, I believe, is a legitimate issue and a sound issue.”
His remarks came after Moon mentioned last week the possibility of postponing the joint drills until after the Olympics.
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will take place from Feb. 9 to 25, followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 8 to 18.
They are set to overlap with two parallel drills -- Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises -- that North Korea has long condemned as “rehearsals for invasion.”
Thurman separately told VOA that “it is important not to disrupt the Olympics so there should be some consideration for the ROK and U.S. to work the dates for the exercises out so it is not disruptive to the Olympics.”
Tilelli said it is worth it for Moon and U.S. President Donald Trump to consider rescheduling the joint drills to when the Olympics end, according to VOA.
The former USFK chiefs, however, warned of using the military exercises as a bargaining chip to appease North Korea.
“Any notion by anyone that exercises should be postponed to achieve some kind of diplomatic engagement is wrong,” Bell said, adding the two parallel drills, if postponed, should be conducted “immediately following the Olympics.”
He demanded the U.S. to abrogate the alliance and pull out its forces from South Korea if either side ever chooses to use military readiness as a bargaining chip.
Thurman echoed a similar view, claiming, “We must be careful about appeasing North Korea.”
“It has never worked and I do not think cutting deals with them will be effective,” he said.