[Photo] S. Korea, US consider minimizing joint defense drills scheduled for March

Posted on : 2020-02-25 17:27 KST Modified on : 2020-02-25 17:27 KST

In light of the current novel coronavirus outbreak, South Korea and the US are considering scaling back their joint defense drills scheduled for March. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced a potential reduction of South Korea-US joint defense drills after a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon on Feb. 24. "[USFK Commander Gen.] Robert Abrams and [South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki] are looking at scaling back the command post training due to concerns about the coronavirus," Esper said at a joint press conference with Jeong. Esper’s remarks likely refer to the computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX) scheduled for two weeks starting Mar. 9, which would involve hundreds of South Korean and US soldiers in bunkers in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

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