SEOUL (REUTERS) - South Korea and the United States will kick off their annual joint military drills this week but without mobilising US-based troops after scaling back the programme due to coronavirus concerns, South Korean media reported on Wednesday (Aug 12).
The allies have been discussing how to adjust the exercises, which usually begin in August, with the coronavirus threatening to disrupt the travel of US personnel.
The programme involves tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides, though largely focused on computerised simulations rather than live field training.
The exercises will be held from Aug 16-28 but in a reduced scale, though the timeframe was extended by a couple of days to disperse participants and minimise night activities, the Yonhap news agency said.
Seoul's defence ministry spokesman said the plans have not yet been finalised.
Ms Jacqueline Leeker, a spokeswoman for US Forces Korea (USFK), said regular training is aimed at maintaining "trust, proficiency and readiness" but did not provide details.
The 28,500-strong US Forces Korea has reported at least 65 Covid-19 cases among its troops, employees and their families since July, prompting concerns among some South Korean residents near their base. All were confirmed upon arrival or while in two-week mandatory quarantine.
Ms Leeker said the US Army has stepped up its preventive control measures, and requires soldiers to undergo a test before travelling internationally, effective Aug 21.
The combined drills are closely monitored by North Korea which calls them a "rehearsal for war" and had already been reduced in recent years to facilitate US negotiations aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear programmes.
This year's exercises also provide a chance to assess South Korea's readiness to take over wartime operational control, and the change could affect President Moon Jae-in's pledge to complete the transfer before his term ends in 2022.
The United States agreed to hand it over on the conditions that South Korea has secured key military capabilities to lead the combined defence posture and effectively counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and that there is a security environment conducive to a transfer.
The allies will determine whether the conditions are met after three rounds of capability tests, the first of which was done last year.
The military source said this year's test has "limits", as Washington is not bringing evaluators because of coronavirus concerns.
Professor Park Won-gon from Handong Global University said at least 300 evaluators are required for the test.
"Now that the second-round evaluation is postponed, the final test and the decision will likely take place after Moon's term is over," he said.
"To meet the requirements, resolving the North Korean nuclear issue is also essential, in which stalled negotiations and the upcoming US presidential election play a factor," Prof Park added.
