Seoul: South Korea has been in close consultation with the United States over their joint military exercises and will continue to do so in the future, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Tuesday. Wi's remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint military exercises with Seoul, a move widely seen as an overture for dialogue with North Korea but feared by many here that it may delay Seoul's efforts to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) of troops from the United States.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wi emphasized the ongoing coordination between the two nations, stating, "Based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, our government has been continuing coordination with the U.S. side on combined exercises and drills between South Korea and the U.S." He also assured that this coordination will persist in the future. The national security adviser noted that Seoul is enhancing its defense capabilities independently.
In a recent social media post, President Trump mentioned a conversation with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung regarding the potential involvement of Seoul in efforts to denuclearize Iran, to which the South Korean leader replied, "No thanks." Addressing this, Wi mentioned that South Korea has been engaged in international discussions focused on maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and supporting global non-proliferation efforts.
Wi further explained that the South Korean government is exploring ways to contribute to these initiatives while considering its defense strategy on the Korean Peninsula and relevant domestic legal procedures. On the topic of Iran's denuclearization, Wi pointed out that South Korea holds a significant interest due to its experience in handling North Korea's nuclear ambitions, which oppose the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.