By Lee Min-hyung
Defense Minister Song Young-moo will hold ministerial talks with his U.S. counterpart James Mattis in Hawaii, Friday, on rearranging the schedules for their delayed joint military exercises.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, Song and Mattis agreed to hold an in-depth discussion on a series of pending issues during the meeting.
In particular, the postponed Korea-U.S. military drills are expected to be the key theme of the gathering with other high-ranking military officials.
This comes weeks after President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement to postpone the joint exercises until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next month.
The decision came in response to North Korea’s vow it would not take any provocative military actions during the sporting event.
Song and Mattis will share their security stance on the Korean Peninsula and a set of measures for them to hold a safe and peaceful Olympics, according to the defense ministry.
“South Korea and the U.S. are still in talks over the exact schedules for the joint military drills which will begin after the PyeongChang Paralympics in mid-March,” defense ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo told reporters Thursday.
“Nothing specific has been confirmed, and the ministry will notify of detailed plans for the drills soon,” she said.
Despite the suspension of the exercises, North Korea released more provocative rhetoric against them, Thursday.
“South Korea should stop for good the military drills with the U.S., and the South should also cease bringing in nuclear or combat equipment from the U.S.,” the Korea Central New Agency said.
Pyongyang also stepped up its hostile rhetoric against Seoul, pledging to intensify its combat prowess to stop the latter from obtaining any nuclear and other potent weapons systems.
“South Korea should not push for the drills at a time when both Koreas are on track to begin dialogue,” it added.
Starting last week, Seoul and Pyongyang have shown signs of thawing their icy relation, agreeing to have sports engagement in the upcoming Olympics.
They will form a joint ice hockey team and conduct a series of joint activities — such as planned Olympics celebratory performances by a North Korean troupe.