US Defense Secretary Esper says the US and South Korea have indefinitely postponed a joint military exercise in an “act of goodwill” toward North Korea
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, right and South Korea defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, left attend a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.
The US and South Korea last year cancelled several joint drills in the wake of the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un, but were due to carry out a combined air exercise later this month. He urged Pyongyang to return to negotiations and "demonstrate the same goodwill as it considers decisions on conducting training, exercises and testing".
"It will be a part of our ongoing consultation and we will decide through that close coordination between the two sides," Jeong said.Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests in recent months, including one launched at sea which it said was fired from a submarine -- a potential strategic game-changer.
Working-level talks restarted in Sweden in October only to break down quickly, with the North blaming the US for not giving up its "old attitude". "The US has no intention to sincerely work with us towards the settlement of issues. Therefore, we have no willingness to meet," the official said, according to the KCNA report.Esper was in Bangkok after meeting with South Korean officials during a two-day trip to Seoul.
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