U.S. Defense Secretary Willing to Continue Modifying USFK Exercises to Help Diplomacy with North Korea

The U.S. Defense Secretary during his visit to South Korea emphasized that USFK will continue to do its part to help diplomacy with North Korea:

 U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that he is open to altering military activity in South Korea if it helps diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea.

Esper made the remark to reporters flying with him to Seoul, where he is due to hold annual defense talks with Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo.

“We will adjust our exercise posture, either more or less, depending on what diplomacy may require,” Esper said, according to a transcript provided by the Pentagon, referring to South Korea-U.S. combined military exercises that North Korea condemns as an invasion rehearsal.

“I think we have to be open to all those things that empower and enable our diplomats to sit down with the North Koreans, alongside with our South Korean partners, and move the ball forward to a negotiated settlement of the issues that we put on the table,” he added.

Yonhap

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