US, South Korea to halt joint military drills
(VOVWORLD) - The US and South Korea announced Sunday the two countries will end annual large-scale joint military exercises in a bid to ease tensions with North Korea.
 South Korean marines marched during a military exercise as a part of the annual joint military training called Foal Eagle between South Korea and the US in Pohang, South Korea, April 5, 2018. (Photo: Reuters) |
US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korea’s Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on Saturday decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of the exercises. They will be replaced by a modified exercise focusing on strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations.
The decision comes three days after a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam.
North Korea has denounced the US-South Korea joint exercises saying they are aggressive provocations and rehearsals for war.