“To support implementing the outcomes of the Singapore Summit, and in coordination with our Republic of Korea ally, Secretary Mattis has indefinitely suspended select exercises,” U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Dana White said on Friday.
“This includes suspending FREEDOM GUARDIAN along with two Korean Marine Exchange Program (KMEP) training exercises scheduled to occur in the next three months,” White added.
“In support of upcoming diplomatic negotiations led by Secretary Pompeo, additional decisions will depend upon the DPRK continuing to have productive negotiations in good faith,” she added.
https://thediplomat.com/2018/06/us-south-korea-indefinitely-suspend-marine-exchange-exercises/
South Korea A Channel Top Ten reports in its top story uploaded to youtube today that the K-9 live fire exercise in the volatile north west island region is likely also to be suspended. Both President Moon and the North Koreans have proposed a demilitarization of this volatile region which has been the source of violent encounters in the past leading to deterioration of relations, involving sinkings of patrol craft and bombardment of islands. The position of the so called Northern Limit Line (NLL) dividing North South territorial limits in the region has been disputed by the North since the armistice. There have been a series of proposals from the North for withdrawal of armed forces from the frontal zones along the DMZ, but the desire to defuse the western maritime zone is the most likely to proceed if relations between North and South continue to improve. An A Channel graphic from the program depicts the disposition of artillery forces in the region which is regarded as a vulnerable flank of North Korea with the advanced positions of Korean armed forces offshore.
Bek Ryang Do the northernmost of the South Korean islands behind the Northern Limit Line is seven kilometers from the North Korean coast which is visible from the island on a clear day. Tourists from South Korea can take a ferry from Inchon to visit the island during daylight hours.
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