US-ROK Joint Exercises, Key Variable in Inter-Korean Relations
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for next month are expected to become the biggest variable in inter-Korean relations.
Depending on the decision made by South Korea and the U.S. regarding whether to hold the joint exercises and their scale, North Korea's response?whether to engage in dialogue or provoke?could change.
According to diplomatic sources, the final decision on the joint exercises scheduled for next month has not yet been made. In particular, with the recent restoration of communication lines between South and North Korea, adjustments to the joint exercises next month are expected to influence the possibility of holding an inter-Korean summit.
In this regard, the U.S. Department of Defense has stated that the decision will be made by mutual agreement with the South Korean government.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense responded to a Voice of America (VOA) inquiry on the adjustment of next month's joint exercises by saying, "In accordance with the policy of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, we do not comment on planned or conducted exercises," and added, "The joint exercises are a decision of both South Korea and the U.S., and all decisions will be made by mutual agreement," VOA reported on the 31st.
He added, "Force protection is the top priority of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and all joint exercises will respect the COVID-19 guidelines of the South Korean government and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."
Earlier, Defense Minister Seo Wook and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reportedly coordinated their views on the joint exercises during a phone call discussing security issues on the Korean Peninsula.
Hot Picks Today
As Samsung Falters, Chinese DRAM Surges: CXMT Returns to Profit in Just One Year
- "Most Americans Didn't Want This"... Americans Lose 60 Trillion Won to Soaring Fuel Costs
- Man in His 30s Dies After Assaulting Father and Falling from Yongin Apartment
- Samsung Union Member Sparks Controversy With Telegram Post: "Let's Push KOSPI Down to 5,000"
- "Why Make Things Like This?" Foreign Media Highlights Bizarre Phenomenon Spreading in Korea
Regarding the joint exercises, the U.S. side maintains the position that they must be conducted to maintain the combined defense posture, while the South Korean side is said to prefer deciding by reflecting conditions such as maintaining momentum for the Korean Peninsula peace process, driving denuclearization negotiations, and the COVID-19 spread situation.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
