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| Gen. Vincent Brooks, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), delivers a keynote speech during a South Korea-U.S. alliance forum at the Army Hall in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks said Wednesday the U.S. will suspend "unnecessary" joint military exercises with South Korea that might provoke North Korea.
During a security forum in Seoul, Brooks said the recent decision by Seoul and Washington to suspend their combined military exercises is to help build trust with the North through dialogue.
"I don't anticipate that this is an end to all exercises and training as we know it, but rather these visible exercises that are right up front that may cause unnecessary irritation at a time when the need for trust building is so important," Brooks said.
"I will eliminate the doubt and concerns about all military training going away. I don't have any such instruction coming my way. I don't feel that is the spirit of our leaders but rather to create room for them to be able to navigate the way forward ... to give them room if this helps set the conditions for them to have greater effectiveness in their dialogue and discussions."
To encourage ongoing denuclearization talks with Pyongyang, South Korea and the U.S. have decided to indefinitely stop the Korea Marine Exercise Program and the annual combined Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) drills, which were planned for next month and August.
Meanwhile, regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, Brooks denied speculation that the leaders of South Korea and U.S. are not interested in the matter.
"We shouldn't have any worry or doubt about the departure of U.S. forces," he said. "President Trump said he is not interested in doing that right now. President Moon said he is not interested in doing that right now. Neither the National Assembly nor the U.S. Congress has expressed interest in doing that now."
He also mentioned ties with South Korea, saying that there is no "guarantee" on them.
"I prefer to live every day I have because there is no guarantee how long it is going to last, not my life, not my alliance," he said. "So right now, how about let's just live the alliance. That is what we should be doing every single day."
