President Moon Appears to Be Signaling That He Wants to Cancel Major Joint U.S.-ROK Military Exercises
Here is what people who attended a meeting with President Moon are claiming he said:
![President Moon Jae-in and leaders of five political parties pose before a luncheon at the Blue House on Wednesday. From left, Choe Kang-wook of the Open Minjoo Party; Yeo Yeong-gug of the Justice Party; Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party; President Moon; Kim Gi-hyeon of the People Power Party and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party. [YONHAP]](https://i0.wp.com/koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2021/05/26/fc2574de-b4b3-43d7-a7bc-66bc58edcfa6.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday expressed skepticism over the idea of a big joint military drill by Korea and the United States this year — after Washington supplies Covid-19 vaccines to Korean troops.
Joong Ang Ilbo
Moon had a luncheon with leaders of five political parties at the Blue House Wednesday to discuss last week’s summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, where the two leaders reached a series of agreements on economic cooperation and a vaccine partnership.
Chairman Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), Acting Chairman and Floor Leader Kim Gi-hyeon of the People Power Party (PPP), Justice Party Chairman Yeo Yeong-gug, People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo and Open Minjoo Party Chairman Choe Kang-wook attended the meeting, accompanied by their spokesmen.
“Considering the Covid-19 situation, wouldn’t it be hard to hold a large-scale military exercise?” Moon was quoted as saying by Justice Party spokesman Lee Dong-yeong. “The United States will also make a decision taking into account North Korea-U.S. relations.”
According to Lee, Moon made the remarks in response to Justice Party Chairman Yeo ‘s proposal that a Korea-U.S. joint military exercise scheduled for August be canceled or delayed to revive inter-Korean talks.
You can read more at the link.
US troops should leave South Korea. If South Korea wants to embrace China and prove it can stand on its own, then let it.
South Korean president wants to stop the useless (and costly) military exercises that will only antagonize North Korea, is somehow translated to “South Korea wants to embrace China”. What childishness. Good lord. The US really don’t want South Korea to embrace China, so don’t wish for something that will be a lot of problem for you.
Why would Korea embracing Winnie XI be a problem for the US? After 2002, the RoK lost a lot of supporters.
Given their near constant whinging about the Takeshima/Dokdo/Liancort Rocks and their rapey treatment of women fro the PI, they don’t even have the regional support they had in the 1950s.
Best for Moon to remember Winnie likes Kim better…
– Why would Korea embracing Winnie XI be a problem for the US?
You can’t even deal with little North Korea alone, let alone China. lol. Not to mention that it’s going to be damned difficult to cut out China from your supply chains with South Korea helping China to keep their supply chain intact. But I would love to see South Korea ignore the US and declare the war over, and sign the peace treaty with North Korea. Why doesn’t the US agree to this? After all, why should the US care what happens in Korea? Right?
– Given their near constant whinging about the Takeshima/Dokdo/Liancort Rocks
That’s rich, coming from a country that likes to whine, “Chyna, Chyna, Chyna, and Chyna”.
– and their rapey treatment of women fro the PI, they don’t even have the regional support they had in the 1950s.
Lol.racist much? Didn’t the PI kick out the US military just for that? lol. Coming from the people who created wars like the Iraq War for fake reasons, then bombed and murdered millions of people all for nothing, you’re the one to talk.
– Best for Moon to remember Winnie likes Kim better…
This constant anti-South Korean rhetoric spewed by American right and some South Korean right, falsely accusing Moon of being a China’s agent, is getting old. Moon is a pro-South Korean nationalist, he does not heavily lean towards either the US or China. His interest strictly lies with how he can avoid conflict with either one of them, while maximizing the benefits. Just because he doesn’t suck American a$$, then turn around and do/say something completely different like some country which I won’t bother naming, doesn’t mean he’s a pro-Xi Jin Ping.
Read Andre Lankov’s well written third party editorial titled:
“US-China Confrontation and South Korea’s Reluctant Choice”
https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/us-china-confrontation-and-south-korea-reluctant/
You sound gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that ..
But definitely a Liberace vibe there…
Maybe you’ll be a big hit at the palace…
“Chyna”… in case you’re wondering…
But don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with us…
The Justice Party consider themselves the true heirs of the Noh Moo-hyun ideal and are more leftist than the Democratic Party. (Their party color is yellow, which was Noh’s color)
I would say, that Moon’s comment is his way of politely trying to shut up the Justice Party Chairman and his ridiculous and unrealistic proposal.
As such I wouldn’r read too much into Moon’s comment.
TOK, you have a much more reasonable viewpoint. Thanks!
Commie moon just setting up excuses on why he failed to get opcon transfer. One of his many and constat fails.
You too, Flyingsword. I had not considered that. Of course it will still be the fault of the Japanese and the Americans.