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View all search resultsS. Korea says no decision on joint US military drills
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outh Korea said on Monday no decision has been made on its joint military exercises with the United States but they should not create tension, after North Korea warned the South against holding the exercises amid signs of a thaw in relations.
South Korea and the United States regularly stage military exercises, mainly in the spring and summer, but North Korea has long responded with scathing criticism, calling them a rehearsal for war.
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a senior official of the ruling Workers' Party, warned the South on Sunday that holding the drills would undercut efforts to rebuild relations.
Her warning came days after the two Koreas restored hotlines that Pyongyang severed a year ago, as Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are seeking to repair strained ties and resume summits.
Seoul's Defense Ministry said on Monday that Seoul and Washington were in talks over the drills but no decision has been made.
"We have nothing to comment on her statement, but regarding the exercises, the timing and method were not finalized," ministry spokesman Boo Seung-chan told a briefing.
The allies will decide after considering COVID-19, joint defense posture, planned transfer of wartime operational control, and the issue of "supporting diplomatic efforts for establishing lasting peace on the Korean peninsula," Boo added.
