Trump administration backs down on military exercises, but North Korea not expected to reciprocate 'act of goodwill'

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper this weekend confirmed the postponement of a joint military exercise with South Korea as an"act of goodwill" to end nuclear deadlock with North Korea, despite warnings from Japan that such a gesture will not likely be reciprocated by Kim Jong Un.

Esper made the announcement alongside his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, during a Sunday press conference in Bangkok, where the two men were reportedly attending an Asia defense minister's conference, according to. Speaking to reporters, Esper and Jeong confirmed that the exercise will be delayed but did not disclose a new date or comment on whether one had been set.

"I see this as a good-faith effort by the United States and the Republic of Korea to enable peace, to shape... to facilitate a political agreement–a deal, if you will–that leads to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," Esper said, adding that he hopes the move would encourage Kim"to demonstrate the same goodwill."

Although the U.S. and South Korea have wound back the joint military exercises they conduct annually to deter North Korea from a nuclear offensive, Pyongyang has continued to criticize the drills as a barrier to further improving relations. The hermit kingdom has also previously called the exercises a demonstration that the two countries are preparing for war.

However, the move is not expected to yield any results. Esper's announcement comes after Japan's Defense Chief Taro Kono warned the U.S. official that such a gesture will not likely persuade North Korea to follow suit."No one could be optimistic about" influencing Kim's behavior, he said.

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