#Breaking: Defense Secretary Esper announces the U.S. and South Korea have decided to postpone the “Combined Flying Training Event,” to facilitate diplomacy with North Korea.
This was already a downgraded exercise that was meant to replace the “Vigilant Ace” exercise. It will be widely seen as a concession to Pyongyang to draw North Korea back into the negotiations.
Esper: “Whenever you adjust your training there’s always some impact on readiness,” but says US and Korean forces are still prepared to fight. No word on how long they are postponing the exercise.
Esper: “I don’t see this as a concession, I see this as good faith effort... to enable peace.” Asks North Korea to correspondingly curb their exercises (meaning they haven’t agreed to do so).
Esper is meeting with the South Korea and Japan defense ministers soon here in Bangkok to urge them continue sharing intelligence under the GSOMIA agreement. Prospects of a breakthrough are low.
The Trump administration is at the same time asking South Korea and Japan to drastically increase their contributions to pay for hosting US troops, straining both alliances as China pushes for more regional influence.
