Unification minister says scaled-back drills could open door for dialogue
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday he hoped scaled-back military drills between South Korea and the United States could open the door for dialogue between North Korea and Washington. He made the remarks during a parliamentary committee meeting, as Seoul and Washington announced cutting short their annual summertime military exercise to Friday, concluding the 11-day drills a week…
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed optimism on Wednesday that scaled-down military drills between South Korea and the United States could pave the way for dialogue between North Korea and Washington. This came during a parliamentary committee meeting, as both Seoul and Washington announced the premature termination of their annual summertime military exercise. The 11-day drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, were concluded a week earlier than planned on Friday.
Chung affirmed his backing for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to scale back the exercise, stating that making things safer is the core objective of the reduction. Speaking at a parliamentary committee on foreign and unification affairs, he emphasized the shared aim of the alliance, which is peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order on Sunday (U.S. time) for the U.S. military to reduce the combined exercise, contending that the drills are perceived as "totally inappropriate and hostile" by North Korea. When questioned regarding the assertion that he may be prioritizing North Korea's interests over America's, Chung remained silent.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
