South Korea says the United States has cancelled a major joint amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month because the US military is facing difficulties deploying forces due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.
The South Korean Marine Corps said the US formally notified Seoul in June that its ability to participate in this year’s Ssangyong exercise would be limited because of the situation in the Middle East.
The biennial exercise involves South Korean and US Marines and is designed to improve their ability to conduct combined military operations. It normally includes warships, aircraft and ground forces practising amphibious landings.
South Korea and the US are still discussing whether the exercise can be resumed, according to South Korean officials. The Pentagon has not immediately commented.
The cancellation comes days after US President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in another major annual US-South Korea military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield. The drills were shortened from 11 days to five days.
Trump said the decision was linked to the cost of the exercises and South Korea’s refusal to participate in the war against Iran. He also said he wanted to maintain better relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Despite the reduced military drills, North Korea launched 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week and condemned the exercises, which Pyongyang has long described as preparations for an invasion.
Trump has also said it is important for the US to maintain good relations with Kim, while discussing North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
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