A member of the Honor Guard carries the South Korean flag after participating in the 2018 Security Consultative at the Pentagon, co-hosted by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and South Korea Minister of Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. and South Korea are reviewing whether they will conduct large-scale military exercises next year and will decide before December.
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo told reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon that if more exercises are suspended the two countries will conduct other training to mitigate the lapse. He says the review will be done by Nov. 15.
Three major joint military drills were scrapped this year as part of a broader effort to push for diplomatic progress with North Korea.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he is not yet concerned about a loss of combat capability. He says they may have to make changes to make sure those capabilities aren’t eroded, but so far it is not a worry.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, right, and South Korea Minister of Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, left, arrive to begin reviewing the troops as they co-host the 2018 Security Consultative at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)
A group of international defense chiefs convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to coordinate military aid for Ukraine is likely to be larger when it meets for the second time on Monday.
President Joe Biden authorized the use of Air Force planes for the effort, dubbed “Operation Fly Formula,” because no commercial flights were available.