Japan: US, South Korea postponing military exercises does not reduce pressure on North Korea
Japan today stressed that the US and South Korea postponing joint military exercises does not mean pressure on North Korea is reduced.
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Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. Photo:Kyodo. |
The three allies "determined a common policy of further increasing pressure on North Korea,"AFP"Including this case (postponing joint exercises), Japan, the United States and South Korea have been sharing information and arranging policies on North Korea," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said today.
Mr. Suga said changing the timing of the joint exercises was not intended to reduce pressure on North Korea.
US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in agreed on January 4 to postpone the two joint military exercises, Foal Eagle and Key Resolve, until after the Winter Olympics, held in Pyeongchang, are over.
In 2017, Key Resolve took place from March 13 to 24, while Foal Eagle lasted from March 1 to April 30, with hundreds of thousands of troops participating. An anonymous source revealed that Key Resolve 2018 will take place from April 23 to May 3, with troop deployment beginning on April 18.
The Moon administration has proposed postponing joint military exercises to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula during the Winter Olympics, February 9-25, and the Paralympics, March 9-18.
US Defense Secretary James Mattis said the decision to postpone the exercise was a "practical matter" and adjusting the timing of the exercise was unprecedented.
