WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 01st November, 2018) The United States and South Korea will make a decision about future major military exercises by December 1, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said during a meeting with Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Wednesday.
"[W]e will make the final decision on any major exercises in the next year before the first of December," Jeong told reporters.
Mattis and Jeong decided earlier this month to suspend the Vigilant Ace military exercise scheduled for later this year in order to enable the diplomatic process with North Korea to continue.
US President Donald Trump decided to halt two other joint exercises with South Korea earlier this year.
US-North Korea relations improved over the last several months after Chairman Kim Jong Un Kim held a summit with Trump on June 12 in Singapore, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to achieve a lasting peace in the region. Trump said the United States would suspend joint drills with Seoul, if North Korea undertakes specific actions toward full and verifiable denuclearization.
In addition, Kim also held three historic summits with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in that helped to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier this month conducted a visit to North Korea during which the parties agreed to hold a second summit, but said that sanctions against North Korea will remain in place.
