U.S.- S.Korea to reduce scope of 'Foal Eagle' military exercise

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS NOVEMBER 21, 2018 / 12:46 PM / UPDATED 17 MINUTES AGO

U.S.- S.Korea to reduce scope of 'Foal Eagle' military exercise

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Wednesday that a joint military exercise with South Korea called “Foal Eagle” would be reduced in scope next year so it does not harm diplomatic efforts with North Korea.

“Foal Eagle is being reorganized a bit to keep it at a level that will not be harmful to diplomacy,” Mattis told reporters.

The Foal Eagle field exercise, which usually involves combined ground, air, naval and special operations troops, takes place every spring.

Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-southkorea-military/u-s-s-korea-to-reduce-scope-of-foal-eagle-military-exercise-idUSKCN1NQ29G

[soryang]

1. The timing of this announcement is very poor

Sometimes a half baked compromise is worse than no decision at all. It seems as if the timing consideration may have been getting the decision out of the way before the long holiday weekend.

It's almost as if the intent is to derail the sensitive negotiations taking place now. Andrew Kim is supposed to be communicating with Kim Yong Chol in North Korea now according to recent reports to set up a meeting in NYC before December 1. If the overture has failed, I can understand the announcement. If it hasn't this is a misstep, which should be walked back, just like Mattis' last poorly timed statement on joint exercises in South Korea last August.