South Korea scraps annual gov’t war drill

SEOUL— South Korea said on Tuesday it had decided to scrap an annual government mobilization drill this year as part of a suspended joint exercise with the United States but would carry out its own drills to maintain readiness. The drill, called the Ulchi exercises, usually takes place every August in tandem with the joint Freedom Guardian military drill with the United States. Seoul and Washington said in June they would halt the joint exercise after US President Donald Trump pledged to end war games following his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore on June 12. Seoul’s presidential office has said the suspension of the combined exercise could facilitate ongoing nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States.