U.S. and South Korea end military exercises that riled North Korea, replacing them with smaller operations
In this March 25, 2015, file photo, U.S. Army's Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters fly during a combined arms live-fire exercise during the annual joint military exercise Foal Eagle between South Korea and the United States north of Seoul, South Korea. By Dan Lamothe Dan Lamothe Reporter covering the Pentagon and the U.S. military Email Bio Follow March 2 at 6:18 PM U.S.
The specifics and names of the new exercises were not disclosed Saturday. But a U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Shanahan had hoped to find a solution that would allow the U.S. and South Korean militaries to continue the elements of the exercises focused on maintaining joint readiness while foregoing elements that in the past had been intended as a show of force.
The announcement, which NBC News first reported Friday was expected, comes two days after Trump cut short a summit with Kim on Thursday after they were unable to agree to terms on how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. As he had previously, the president spoke warmly of Kim and with disdain for the exercises.
But as discussions continued, it became clear that future exercises also would be affected. Jim Mattis, who resigned as Pentagon chief in December, said in November that this spring’s Foal Eagle exercise would be “reduced in scope" as diplomats from the two countries continued to speak. Some Democrats have questioned whether the cessation of exercises will hurt the ability of the U.S. military to respond in the event of a crisis. Army Gen. Robert Abrams, the top commander of U.S. Forces Korea, downplayed the significance of scaled-back exercises last month.
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