Lee's ill-timed offer to suspend joint drills

President Lee Jae Myung proposed suspending the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, saying the exercises could function either as leverage or as an outcome of improved inter-Korean relations. Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential jet while en route to Turkey after concluding his G20 summit schedule in South Africa, Lee said the joint drills are among the most sensitive issues for North Korea. “Once a durable peace is established between the two Koreas, it will be desirable to suspend the joint drills,” he said. “If such a peace system is in place, the two Koreas would no longer need to fight. If this becomes a reality, the U.S. will also feel its interests are served because President Donald Trump dislikes the costly war games.” Although conditional, this marks the first time Lee has publicly suggested suspending the joint drills. South Korea and the United States conduct two large-scale exercises each year: Freedom Shield, typically held in March, and Ulchi Freedom Shield, usually conducted in August. North Korea has reacted sharply to these displays of force. PyongyaWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times