US Troops with Rising COVID Cases... Will Next Month's ROK-US Joint Exercises Be Possible?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to the US Forces Korea (USFK) increased by 11 more, there are growing concerns that the South Korea-US joint military exercises may become practically difficult to hold.

On the 13th, the US Forces Korea Command announced that in addition to two US soldiers who arrived at Osan Air Base on a US government chartered plane, nine others who entered Incheon International Airport on four separate occasions since the 8th via commercial flights also tested positive for COVID-19. The US military explained, "All 11 tested positive for COVID-19" and "They were subsequently transferred to quarantine facilities at Camp Humphreys or Osan Air Base."

Earlier, on the 10th, seven soldiers who arrived at Osan Air Base on two US government chartered planes tested positive for COVID-19 immediately after arrival. Additionally, one soldier and one American civilian worker who arrived separately at Incheon International Airport on different commercial flights from the US also tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival.

With the increase in US military COVID-19 cases, opinions have emerged suggesting that the joint South Korea-US military exercises scheduled for next month might be delayed. On the 8th, General Abrams reportedly proposed postponing the exercises to October during an emergency meeting, citing that the combat staff from the US mainland could not participate due to COVID-19. Since US military personnel entering from the US mainland must undergo a two-week self-quarantine and other procedures, the preparation period for the exercises would be extended, causing difficulties.

The South Korean military insists that the exercises must be conducted next month to facilitate the transfer of wartime operational control. Since the exercises were delayed in the first half of this year due to COVID-19, they argue that further postponement is not possible. This was the reason for the unscheduled emergency meeting between Defense Minister Jeong and General Abrams.

Internally, the military has tentatively decided to start the Crisis Management Staff Training (CMST), which serves as a preliminary rehearsal for the joint exercises, from the 10th of next month; the first phase defense exercises from the 17th; and the second phase counterattack exercises from the 24th. The operational commands of each service branch and their subordinate units have already completed preparations for the joint command post exercise (CPX) and have begun operational planning education. This exercise will be conducted in the form of a war game using computer simulations without actual troop or equipment mobilization.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.