S. Korea, US postpone scaled-down joint air exercise

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper hold a joint press conference in Bangkok announcing the postponement of a joint military exercise on Nov. 17.

US defense secretary says move is “act of goodwill” toward denuclearization negotiations

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper hold a joint press conference in Bangkok announcing the postponement of a joint military exercise on Nov. 17.

The South Korean and US militaries ultimately decided to postpone a scaled-down exercise they’d planned for this month to replace Vigilant Ace, a joint air exercise of larger scale. The decision is aimed at providing military support for diplomatic efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization, including North Korea-US negotiations.

Some are optimistically predicting that this could breathe new life into the Korean Peninsula Peace Process, perhaps by paving the way for more working-level talks between North Korea and the US. The previous round of working-level talks ― held in Stockholm in early October ― ended without an agreement. The big question, however, is how the move will be taken by North Korea, which has been pressuring the US to drop out of its joint military exercises with South Korea or to halt the exercises altogether. Such was the message of a statement issued by Kim Yong-chol, chair of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, on Nov. 14.

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper sat down during the 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, in Bangkok, Thailand, and held a joint press conference on Nov. 17 during which they officially announced the postponement of the joint military exercise scheduled for mid-November. Jeong and Esper’s unexpected announcement of the postponement is thought to have been linked to a meeting between Esper and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House on Nov. 15.

“After close consultation and careful consideration, Minister Jeong and I have jointly decided to postpone this month’s Combined Flying Training Event,” Esper said during the press conference.

“We have made this decision as an act of goodwill to contribute to an environment conducive to diplomacy and the advancement of a peace,” the secretary added.

“We are firmly committed to the goal of achieving North Korea’s complete denuclearization, and diplomatic means are the optimal method of achieving that end,” Jeong emphasized.

When asked when the exercises would be held again, Jeong said that would “be decided through close cooperation between South Korea and the US in light of what happens going forward.” In effect, Jeong didn’t impose a time limit on the postponement.

Esper’s remarks contained a message to North Korea, namely that the decision to postpone the exercise was a “good faith effort” aimed at facilitating political deliberations about denuclearization.

“We encourage the DPRK [North Korea] to demonstrate the same goodwill as it considers decisions on conducting training, exercises, and testing. We also urge the DPRK to return to the negotiating table without precondition or hesitation,” Esper went on to say.

The second North Korea-US summit, which was held in Hanoi at the end of February, concluded without an agreement. Between May and October, North Korea has tested projectiles on 12 occasions, including new types of short- and medium-range missiles, rockets from a larger type of launcher, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Esper also seemed anxious to deflect criticism that postponing the joint exercises would harm the two countries’ security stance. “Our willingness to modify training to keep the door open to an agreement on the denuclearization of the DPRK should not be mistaken for a lack of commitment to advance and defend our shared goals, interests, and values,” he said.

By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [[e-mail]]