[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The Ministry of National Defense announced on the 29th that it is closely consulting with the United States regarding the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for next month, taking into account the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and diplomatic efforts for peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.
At a regular briefing on the same day, Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Boo Seung-chan was asked about reports speculating the suspension or reduction of the exercises following the reactivation of inter-Korean communication lines. He replied, "The timing, scale, and method of the second half joint command post exercise have not yet been finalized."
He added, "We are comprehensively considering the spreading COVID-19 situation, maintaining the combined defense posture, creating conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control, and supporting diplomatic efforts for denuclearization and permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula, and are closely consulting with the United States."
Spokesperson Boo also stated regarding the joint exercises whether a military dialogue proposal has been made to North Korea, "No proposal has been made so far."
With the inter-Korean communication channel, which North Korea unilaterally cut off in June last year, recently restored after 13 months, there are growing possibilities within military circles that North Korea may oppose the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, leading to postponement or scale reduction.
Meanwhile, in response to a question about plans to establish a video conference system between the military authorities of South and North Korea, Spokesperson Boo said, "There is no separate plan," but added, "If necessary, the video conference system of the Ministry of Unification will be utilized once established."
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