By Lee Min-hyung
South Korea and the United States have suspended a planned joint exercise by marines set to take place in the next three months in consideration of ongoing talks on North Korea's denuclearization.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, Seoul and Washington agreed to put on hold the joint Korea Marine Exchange Program (KMEP) training exercise as a follow-up measure for Pyongyang's pledge to carry out nuclear disarmament and stop military provocations.
"The KMEP is a small-scale military drill jointly held by South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps," the South Korean Marine Corps said in a statement. But neither side has commented on specific timelines for its possible resumption.
This came a few days after South Korea and the U.S. decided to suspend the joint large-scale Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise slated for August. At that time, the defense ministry said the decision was to ensure the smooth progress of the ongoing dialogue with North Korea.
Seoul and Washington have yet to decide whether to postpone or suspend other planned military exercises; only saying that it depends on how sincerely the North engages in the upcoming denuclearization and peace talks with the South and U.S.
The decision was made in line with the North's strong opposition toward the decades-long joint military drills. The regime has viewed them as huge military threats, urging Seoul and Washington to stop them for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite repeated threats from the North, the South and U.S. had remained firm over pushing ahead with joint military drills as planned until the historic June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Following the first-ever meeting between U.S. and North Korean leaders, however, Seoul and Washington decided to suspend the UFG exercise.
South Korea and the United States have suspended a planned joint exercise by marines set to take place in the next three months in consideration of ongoing talks on North Korea's denuclearization.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, Seoul and Washington agreed to put on hold the joint Korea Marine Exchange Program (KMEP) training exercise as a follow-up measure for Pyongyang's pledge to carry out nuclear disarmament and stop military provocations.
"The KMEP is a small-scale military drill jointly held by South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps," the South Korean Marine Corps said in a statement. But neither side has commented on specific timelines for its possible resumption.
This came a few days after South Korea and the U.S. decided to suspend the joint large-scale Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise slated for August. At that time, the defense ministry said the decision was to ensure the smooth progress of the ongoing dialogue with North Korea.
Seoul and Washington have yet to decide whether to postpone or suspend other planned military exercises; only saying that it depends on how sincerely the North engages in the upcoming denuclearization and peace talks with the South and U.S.
The decision was made in line with the North's strong opposition toward the decades-long joint military drills. The regime has viewed them as huge military threats, urging Seoul and Washington to stop them for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite repeated threats from the North, the South and U.S. had remained firm over pushing ahead with joint military drills as planned until the historic June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Following the first-ever meeting between U.S. and North Korean leaders, however, Seoul and Washington decided to suspend the UFG exercise.
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