The combined military forces of South Korea and United States have begun their annual exercise on Tuesday following a delay due to coronavirus pandemic. The development has come at a time when the relations between Seoul and Pyongyang remain sour after the North region blew up an intern-Korean liaison office on its side of the border in June while violating the military measures.
The joint training will remain in effect till August 28 and will “focus on the maintenance of the combines defense posture” between the two countries, the US Joint Chiefs of staff said. The decision was taken after considering the current circumstances related to covid-19 infection, it added.
The two counties have earlier sought to start exercises from Sunday but the plan was halted as South Korea witnessed the highest surge in Covid-19 infections since early March. It reported 246 new infection on Tuesday taking country’s total coronavirus tally to 15,681.
Meanwhile, the relation between South and North Koreas remain infuriated since the crumbling of a summit between the North and United States in Hanoi over sanctions relief and Pyongyang’s action to be willing to give up in return.
The nuclear-armed North has always expressed dissatisfaction over joint military exercises between south and the US.
