The United States and South Korea have decided to delay joint military exercises until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month, officials from both countries said Thursday.
South Korea's Blue House (executive office) said the decision came during a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in.
A White House statement said both leaders “agreed to de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that [the] United States and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the games.”
Earlier on Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Robert Manning said, "The Department of Defense supports the president's decision and what is in the best interest of the ROK (Republic of Korea) - U.S. Alliance."
The annual joint military exercises known as Foal Eagle are usually held between February and April and are one of the world's largest such drills. The exercises combine ground, air, naval and special operations to increase readiness to defend South Korea and the region. North Korea routinely objects to the exercises.
Earlier, Trump tweeted that his “firm” and “strong” leadership was the impetus for a scheduled resumption of talks between North and South Korea.
"With all of the failed "experts" weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn't firm, strong and willing to commit our total "might" against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing!"
On Wednesday, North and South Korea reopened a cross-border hotline that had been shut down since 2016 after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered to send a team to the Winter Olympic Games hosted by the South next month. After the reopening, South Korea confirmed that officials from both countries talked for 20 minutes, according to The Associated Press.
美国和韩国官员表示，两国决定把联合军演推迟到下个月的平昌冬奥会结束之后。
韩国青瓦台说，这是美国总统川普和韩国总统文在寅周四早些时候通电话时决定的。
白宫发表声明说，两国领导人“同意减少奥运会和两国军演的冲突风险，以便让美韩军队能够集中精力确保奥运会安全。”
星期四早些时候，五角大楼发言人、陆军上校罗伯特·曼宁说：“国防部支持总统的决定，支持最符合美韩联盟利益的做法。”
每年一度的美韩“鹞鹰”联合军演是世界上规模最大的演习之一，通常在2月至4月举行。 演习综合地面、空中、海上和特种作战行动，为保卫韩国和该地区而加强备战。 朝鲜每一次都会谴责这一演习。
早些时候，川普总统在推特上说，朝鲜半岛南北方定下了恢复会谈的日期，这一原动力来自他“坚定”和“强大”的领导力。
韩国和朝鲜星期三重新启动了一条2016年以来一直关闭的跨境热线。朝鲜领导人金正恩表示愿意派运动员参加韩国下个月主办的冬季奥运会。据美联社报道，韩国官员证实，双方官员在热线启动后交谈了20分钟。