[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] US-ROK Joint Military Exercises Likely to Be Scaled Down... Announcement Expected Today

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The South Korea-U.S. military authorities have finalized a plan to significantly reduce the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint exercises starting next month and are expected to announce it on the 26th.

According to military authorities on that day, Park Han-ki, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Robert Abrams, Commander of the United States Forces Korea, held an emergency meeting the previous morning to exchange opinions on the Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) plan. At this meeting, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to reduce the scale of the joint exercises instead of postponing them. However, the final decision on whether to reduce the scale or the duration of the exercises will be made that morning and announced in the afternoon.

The decision by both countries to reduce the joint exercises was based on a policy judgment made at the South Korea-U.S. Defense Ministers' meeting as well as a strategic judgment. On the 24th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, after meeting with South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon, stated that they are considering reducing the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in South Korea.

U.S. CNN also reported on the 25th (local time) that South Korea and the U.S. are expected to soon announce plans to reduce the joint exercises due to the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea. Citing multiple U.S. officials, CNN reported, "South Korea and the U.S. will announce the plan to reduce the joint exercises due to COVID-19 as early as tonight U.S. time, or the morning of the 26th Korean time." CNN added, "Both sides are currently discussing the final details," and "The announcement will be made by the United States Forces Korea together with the South Korean military."

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