U.S., S. Korea delay military exercises

Drills postponed to after Olympics to ease tensions with North Korea

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have agreed to postpone the sprawling joint military exercise their nations hold each year until after the Winter Olympics, in what appears to be an effort to de-escalate tensions with North Korea ahead of an event that will draw people from across the world.

The Olympics will be held in PyeongChang, a mountainous section of South Korea just 60 miles south of the tense Demilitarized Zone, where North and South Korean troops have stood off against each other in an uneasy ceasefire since the 1953 armistice in the Korea War.

The military exercise, Foal Eagle, often involves more than 30,000 American and 200,000 South Korean troops, as well as air, ground and naval operations.

Trump and Moon discussed their options Thursday in a phone call. The South Korean government released a photograph of Moon on the phone with Trump, and reported the decision has been made.

Army Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said the Defense Department supports Trump’s decision and whatever is best for the U.S.-South Korea military alliance.

South Korea’s Presidential Blue House said Trump had told the South Korean president in a telephone call that he hoped inter-Korean talks would lead to good results. He also said he would send a high-level delegation, including members of his family, to the Winter Olympics, which begin Feb. 9.

South Korea’s Moon said in December he had asked the U.S. military to postpone the joint military exercises until after the Olympics, adding that a delay was contingent on North Korea not conducting any more missile or nuclear tests.

But it was not clear from Thursday’s statement if North Korea had in fact made such a pledge. Earlier this week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the United States was hearing reports that North Korea might be preparing for another missile test and warned that would lead to tougher steps against Pyongyang.

Moon favors dialogue to reduce tensions with Pyongyang and sees the Olympics as a “groundbreaking chance” to improve ties and achieve peace.

The dates for the exercises have not been announced. North Korea views the exercises as preparation for an invasion.