[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Will the US-ROK Joint Military Exercises Be Postponed or Reduced?

It has been reported that South Korea and the United States will begin joint military exercises starting on the 5th. The photo shows a US 2nd Infantry Division M1A2 SEP tank crossing a pontoon bridge during the South Korea-US joint river crossing operation training held at the Hantan River in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, in December 2015.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads domestically, South Korea and the United States are considering scaling down the joint military exercises scheduled for March.

On the 24th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stated at a press conference after meeting with South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon in Washington DC that they are reviewing the reduction of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises due to the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea.

When asked whether they are considering canceling the joint exercises due to the spread of COVID-19, Secretary Esper said, "General Robert Abrams, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, and General Park Han-gi, Chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, are looking into scaling down the joint command post exercises due to concerns about COVID-19."

Minister Jeong also said, "Since I am in the U.S., I am not directly involved, but I understand that General Abrams and Chairman Park are comprehensively assessing the situation and have started discussions on how to proceed with future exercises."

As South Korea and the U.S. consider scaling down the joint command post exercises scheduled from March 9, postponement of battalion-level live field training has become inevitable. The South Korea-U.S. Marine Corps is also preparing for the 'KMEP' (Korean Marine Expeditionary Program) training, a tactical unit-level outdoor maneuver exercise. The KMEP training is an annual small-unit joint exercise program conducted by U.S. Marine Corps units stationed in Okinawa, Japan, together with South Korean Marine units in places like Pohang. However, the U.S. forces stationed in Japan may be reluctant to participate in the joint exercises.

After the first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported at the U.S. military base in Daegu, U.S. Forces Korea raised the risk level to 'High.' They are even considering relocating some units of Camp Walker, a logistics support unit in Daegu, to Camp Carroll in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk. If the base access restrictions imposed on the Daegu U.S. military base are extended to all U.S. Forces Korea, meetings, gatherings, and temporary deployments will be restricted unless the personnel are essential for mission execution.

The military has ordered a complete suspension of all outdoor training nationwide, and units currently conducting outdoor training have been instructed to return to their garrisons as soon as possible. In the frontline area, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), reconnaissance and ambush operations have been prohibited, and frontline units have been instructed to implement special measures to prevent infection among key command and control personnel, aircraft and ship pilots, and maintenance staff. Personnel working in key facilities of corps-level large units are currently working in shifts, including telecommuting. Measures to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) have also been halted. Although discussions were completed on the 21st with Gangwon Province to strengthen joint firearm capture operations involving wild boar searches and captures within the DMZ and civilian control line, as well as military units and hunters, all ASF-related matters have been put on hold.

The Ministry of National Defense building located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is also on emergency alert. The Ministry of National Defense sent a notification message to reporters on the day stating, "As a preventive measure against COVID-19, the press room and briefing room inside the Ministry of National Defense main building will be closed for two days today and tomorrow (the 26th)." This measure was taken because a cameraman from a broadcasting station who accesses the Ministry showed suspected symptoms of COVID-19. The test results are expected to be released in the afternoon. This is the first time the Ministry of National Defense has closed the press room and briefing room due to health-related issues.