South Korea's President Moon Jae-in is expected to modify an upcoming joint military exercises with the US, a South Korean press report claimed.
Meanwhile, Seoul's spy agency has raised concerns about potential North Korean provocations.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has tightened its social distancing measures, which have been particularly restrictive when compared to regulations governing the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country.https://t.co/gs7VHNKUs2
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) July 30, 2021
A presidential Blue House official told reporters Wednesday that the president ordered a "careful consultation" regarding the planned drills, local news service MoneyToday reported.
South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook said he was in discussions with local health authorities and U.S. officials to address COVID-19 concerns, the report said. On Tuesday, South Korean authorities confirmed two cases of the Delta Plus COVID-19 variant.
Seoul's military authorities said Tuesday that the two militaries agreed to go ahead with Crisis Management Staff Training, scheduled to start Aug. 10 and end Aug. 13. A joint Combined Command Post Training is to take place from Aug. 16 to 26.
The Blue House source said that the command post training is to be carried out using computer simulations, according to MoneyToday.
Concerns have been rising in the South that North Korea could elevate tensions again after restoring a military communication hotline.
"As long as US troops remain in South Korea, all the North will see is a much bigger enemy with its fist cocked back, ready to strike," says the Council's @ethankessler_ in @RStatecraft. The argument: https://t.co/iD9yPN8Or9
— The Chicago Council (@ChicagoCouncil) August 1, 2021
Last week, North Korean state media reported that Kim expressed discomfort with the exercises.
"The hostile forces are strengthening their fanatical and relentless warfare exercises for aggression, and continue to systematically expand their ability to preempt our country and build armaments," Kim said.
South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday before Seoul's National Assembly Intelligence Committee that a possibility exists of a "military provocation" if the joint exercises are held, News 1 reported.
Kim had said the exercises would be an "undesirable prelude," according to KCNA on Sunday.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
