Third COVID-19 Case Confirmed at Joint Chiefs of Staff Ahead of ROK-US Military Exercises

Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters Building

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Another case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). This is the third confirmed case within the JCS, following a civilian employee on the 16th and a field-grade officer on the 24th of last month.

According to military officials on the 2nd, a field-grade officer working at the JCS tested positive for COVID-19 on that day.

A military official stated, "This morning, an epidemiological investigation is being conducted targeting those who took the same bus from Daebang-dong to work and residents living in the same apartment line."

The confirmed case is known to work at the Information Headquarters on the basement first floor of the JCS building, raising concerns about potential impacts on the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for next week.

The South Korean and U.S. military authorities have agreed to conduct the first half joint command post training (CCPT) around the 8th to 18th and are discussing specific schedules and details. As in previous years, it will be conducted in the form of a command post exercise (CPX) operated through computer simulation.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan said at the regular briefing that day, "The dates and training contents related to the first half joint command post training have not been finalized," adding, "South Korea and the U.S. are closely consulting on implementation plans, taking into account the COVID-19 situation comprehensively."

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