No Plan to Change South Korea-US Military Exercise, US Official Says

The US and South Korean militaries are planning to stage a joint exercise in August, known as Dong Maeng, which is believed to be a slimmed-down version of an annual drill once known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, which included thousands of US troops.

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday after two similar missile tests last week, raising the stakes for US and South Korean diplomats hoping to restart talks on North Korean denuclearization.

“No adjustment or change in plans that we’re aware of or are planning,” the US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

It is unclear how many US troops will be involved this year, but the official noted that the exercise, as in the past, would have a large computer-simulated portion.

“The main thing you want to test, exercise, practice is to make decisions in a combined decision-making

Newly appointed US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will be making his first official visit to Seoul, which the Pentagon said on Tuesday was scheduled as part of a tour through Asia in August.

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