The South Korean authorities said in reports released by the Yonhap news agency that “South Korea and the United States of America intend to resume regular military exercises next month” and explained that “a study on the possibility of resuming the exercises was carried out as part of the May Summit, during which they agreed, however, they are starting a dialogue with the aim of expanding the scope of joint military exercises.”

During the era of former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the two countries refrained from holding large-scale field exercises in order to boost dialogue and diplomacy with North Korea.

In this regard, the chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kim Sung-gyeom, in statements today indicated that “the country’s missile force is capable of delivering a devastating blow against any potential adversary”, clearly containing the message against Korea’s threats: “If we provoke the enemy, we will carry out military operations on the basis of our right to self-defence, and we do not need to ask if we should exercise this right,” he said.

It is worth noting that Seoul and Washington will intensify cooperation in the field of security amid fears that Pyongyang may conduct a nuclear test.