South Korea announced this Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with the United States to cut back on the joint military exercises that both countries are currently conducting. The decision is made at Washington's request, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday a "substantial reduction" of these traditional maneuvers, referring to his good rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the high cost of operations, and Seoul's refusal to get involved in the war against Iran.
"South Korea and the United States have agreed to make some adjustments to the duration and scope of the exercise, among other aspects, at the proposal of the U.S. side," announced in a statement verified by Europa Press the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea.
According to the South Korean command, both parties, which have been conducting the Freedom Shield Ulchi exercise (UFS, for its acronym in English) since Monday the 17th, have decided first to "adjust the duration of this exercise from the 17th to the 21st," so that it will conclude this Friday.
"Secondly, it has been decided to carry out combined maneuver training on the ground on a reduced scale, and South Korea and the United States are currently studying the specific details."
At the same time, the Combined Forces Command of the two countries "is conducting the exercises by dividing their war command centers" between the bases "CP TANGO and Camp Humphreys."
"Looking ahead, South Korea and the United States have agreed to discuss and implement various measures to achieve the objectives of the UFS exercise and establish a combined defense posture," adds the note.
This announcement comes a day after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed his intention to regain full operational control of the Armed Forces for Seoul, even in the event of war, before his term ends in 2030.
Since 1994, South Korea exercises operational control (OPCON) of its Armed Forces only in times of peace. In a large-scale armed conflict on the peninsula, South Korean and U.S. forces would fall under a joint command led by Washington, the Combined Forces Command.
This system comes from the Korean War, when Seoul ceded operational command to a UN force led by the United States. In the late 1970s, this control passed to the Combined Forces Command of South Korea and the United States.
The complete return of command over its Armed Forces is conditioned on South Korea meeting several requirements, mainly of an operational and technological nature, including the development of advanced missile defense systems.
Lee's words came two days after Donald Trump announced on social media that he had ordered the Pentagon to "substantially" reduce joint military exercises in South Korea, highlighting the "very good relationship" he maintains with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.