South Korea says no decision yet on joint US military drills, after North Korea's warning

Record ID: 1630017

  • Title: South Korea says no decision yet on joint US military drills, after North Korea's warning
  • Date: 2nd August 2021
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG (CENTRE) AND MILITARY FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2021 11:15
  • Keywords: Defence Ministry Kim Yo Jong North Korea South Korea U.S. Unification Ministry hotline joint military drills sister statement
  • Location: SEOUL, SUWON, POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SUWON, POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EOL5CNB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korea said on Monday (August 2) no decision had been made on its joint military exercises with the United States, after North Korea warned the South against holding the exercises amid signs of a thaw in relations.
    Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned the South on Sunday (August 1) that holding the drills would undercut efforts to rebuild relations. Her warning came days after the two Koreas restored hotlines, as Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are seeking to repair strained ties and resume summits.
    Seoul's defence ministry said that Seoul and Washington were in talks over the drills but no decision has been made. Lee Jong-joo, spokeswoman of the Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the exercises should not be a "source of military tension in any case", without elaborating.
    The exercises had been scaled back in recent years to facilitate talks between North Korea and the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs in return for U.S. sanctions relief.
    (Production: Minwoo Park)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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