Seoul: The U.S. and South Korean militaries have postponed announcing a date for their major springtime exercise due to disagreements over the extent of on-field drills.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement, initially planned for a joint press briefing on Wednesday, was delayed after the U.S. military showed reluctance towards South Korea’s proposal to reduce field training during the Freedom Shield exercise. This exercise occurs every spring under an all-out war scenario to enhance readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programs.
President Lee Jae Myung’s administration has aimed to scale back the on-field drills as a gesture to ease tensions with Pyongyang, which views the exercises as preparations for an invasion. The delay in the announcement stems from coordination issues, as Seoul pushes to minimize on-field training.
The U.S. military, however, has reportedly opposed South Korea’s plan, as additional troops and equipment have already been deployed to participate in the drills. Both sides are expected to continue discussions and possibly announce the exercise later this month or in early March.