US will not end joint military exercises with South Korea

(Baonghean.vn)- The US will not end joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, as a compromise in exchange for North Korea stopping missile and nuclear tests.

North Korean Ambassador to India Kye Chun-yong. Photo: Yonhap

There is no equivalence between the long-standing, lawful, and defensive military exercises of the US-ROK alliance and North Korea's illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs, said State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams.

“Our military exercises are conducted in accordance with the spirit of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty signed on October 1, 1953, and are closely monitored by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission to ensure full implementation of the 1953 Armistice Agreement,” Ms. Adams stressed.

Ms. Adams also said that Washington is open to discussions aimed at achieving the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but noted that Pyongyang needs to take responsibility to conduct sincere and meaningful activities towards the goal of denuclearization and refrain from further provocations.

The US official's stance came after North Korean Ambassador to India Kye Chun-yong said on June 21 that Pyongyang was willing to discuss a conditional suspension of nuclear and missile tests, including a halt to joint US-South Korea military exercises.

An unnamed US official from the US State Department also criticized Ambassador Kye for trying to compromise something illegal with something legal./.

Lan Ha

(According to Yonhap)