LOC11:38
08:38 GMT
TOKYO, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- South Korea and the US decided to postpone their springtime joint military exercises over growing concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday, citing the combined command.
The two sides had initially planned to stage their computer-simulated combined command post training in March. But they decided to put it off "until further notice" in light of Seoul's decision to raise its alert rating to "severe," the highest level, over COVID-19, according to the Combined Forces Command.
It is the first time that the allies have decided to modify combined exercises due to health-related issues. South Korea has seen a drastic surge in the infections over the past week, with the number of confirmed cases standing at 1,595 as of early Thursday. So far, 13 have died.
Among South Korean military personnel, 21 cases have been reported, while US Forces Korea saw its first coronavirus American patient among its troops on Wednesday.
In making the postponement decision, the allies prioritized containment efforts for the virus and the safety of their service members, the command said, adding that the decision "will adhere to and support South Korea's containment and mitigation plan for COVID-19."
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki first raised the issue, and Combined Forces Command Commander Gen. Robert Abrams agreed upon the deferment "based on the severity" of the present situation, it noted.
It stressed that the latest decision "was not taken lightly," the command said the alliance "remains committed to providing a credible military deterrence and maintaining a robust combined defense posture" to protect South Korea against any threat. (end)
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