“South Korea and the US government delayed the exercise in the spirit of the Olympics. ... We agree to keep the stance of ‘neither confirm nor deny’ on the joint military drill until we make an announcement,” Song said.

Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense had refused to comment on the issue, reiterating the exercise would kick off at an “appropriate time.” Rumors had abound that the field training exercise Foal Eagle would kick off on April 1 and computerized command post exercise Key Resolve would begin three weeks later. 

The minister also denied speculation that North Korea had asked for the delay of the joint drills in return for their participation in the Olympics. North Korea sent a delegate of athletes, a cheering squad and a taekwondo demonstration team for the Olympics.

Song also gave assurance to opposition lawmakers that there is no crack between the US and South Korea following the decision to suspend the annual exercise, saying “there is not even 1 millimeter of uncertainty” between South Korea and the US.

The main opposition conservative party has voiced concerns that the Moon Jae-in administration’s decision to suspend the annual military drill would drive a wedge between the alliance because it would appear to be giving in to the demands of North Korea, which has labeled the drills as rehearsals for war.

Song’s remark came about a week after the top US commander in South Korea briefed the US House of Representatives of its plan to go ahead with the military drills, stressing the importance of the exercises in defending South Korea from North Korea’s aggression.

“We will execute the two major theater-level command post exercises and one theater-level field training exercise each year,” Vincent K. Brooks, the commander of the US-led Combined Forces Command, said in a written testimony submitted to a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Feb. 14.

Along with South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CFC holds two computer-simulated command-post exercises every year -- Key Resolve around March and Ulchi Freedom Guardian around August -- as well as field training exercise Foal Eagle.

By Yeo Jun-suk(jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)