The US and South Korean forces have launched a smaller commando exercise following the termination of their largest joint military maneuvers to date. The Dong Maeng (Alliance) maneuver started as planned, a Defense Department spokesman in Seoul said Monday. It should last until the 12th of February.
Both countries had declared at the weekend, the multi-week spring field maneuver „Foal Eagle“ and the parallel running command training „Key Resolve“ from their training program to take. In support of this, the Pentagon referred to efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the dispute over the North Korean nuclear weapons program. The spring maneuvers repeatedly provoked fierce protests from the communist leadership of North Korea.
„Dong Maeng“ is a modified form of „Key Resolve“ and „Foal Eagle“ with focus on „strategic, operational and tactical aspects“ according to the Joint Troop Command. The US has stationed 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent to threats from North Korea.
US President Donald Trump also cited financial benefits as a reason for ending the major maneuvers. He wrote on Twitter on Sunday, trying to save hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, it was a „good thing“ to reduce tensions with North Korea.
North Korea saw exercises as provocation
The United States and South Korea have been holding joint major maneuvers for years. North Korea regards this as a provocation and preparation for an invasion. „Foal Eagle“ was the largest joint maneuver of the two allies. In the past, 200,000 South Korean soldiers and about 30,000 US forces participated in it. The exercise „Key Resolve“ was largely simulated on the computer.
The announcement to end the military maneuvers was made shortly after the second summit between Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Although there was no breakthrough at the meeting in Hanoi, the US president continues to seek to improve relations with North Korea.
Since the first meeting with Kim in June, the US and South Korea had already held or canceled several joint exercises on a smaller scale. Trump regularly criticized the cost of the military maneuvers, in Hanoi he recently described them as „very, very expensive.“
While some observers warn that suspending the maneuver could give North Korea a strategic advantage, most experts consider such fears exaggerated. Although ending or reducing the exercises could weaken the allies‘ preparedness, this does not „pose a serious threat to South Korea,“ said Ahn Chan-il, president of the World Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul.
