In response to the decision to postpone the Ulchi-Focus Lens (UFL) exercise until after the Inter-Korea Summit, the government revealed, “The order was made to encourage success to the Inter-Korea Summit and establish an atmosphere where each party feels consoled.”
At a press briefing on the 13th, spokesperson Chun Ho Sun said, “The UFL exercise has not been retrenched or cancelled as some suggest. Rather, some changes have been made to the time and approach.”
He informed that the decision had been made by the Summit Arrangement Committee and Security Policy Coordination Council and added, “The North has never made a formal request regarding the UFL exercise in relation to the Summit Talks.”
He continued, “The UFL exercise will be upheld and conducted in the broader framework and designated time as planned by the Korea-U.S. military stimulation and government practice” and “Despite the time difference, there should be no decline in affect, as the exercise will take place as planned.”
Mr. Chun revealed, “The UFL exercise coincides with the Inter-Korea Summit Talks which is considered an extremely important national agenda. In order to establish successful talks, South Korea’s field training exercise (FTX) which operates in parallel to the command post exercise (CPX) has been postponed until after the summit.”
Further, he said, “Each specific agenda that exists between the South and North may become a topic of discussion at the Inter-Korea Summit” and explained “Nonetheless, the agenda must be suitable to the nature of the talks in accordance to timing.”
Spokesperson Chun said, “The agenda continues to be an issue of discussion. However, the agenda cannot only be proposed by our part but the North can also propose an agenda” and added, “Similar to the first Inter-Korea Summit, a broad and comprehensive agenda is anticipated with the North through the preparatory meeting.”
In regards to the current events, Song Dae Sung, a committee member of the Sejong Institute said in a telephone conversation with the DailyNK, “If the country was properly established, it would not be possible to postpone military training for the consolation of the enemy, North Korea” and criticized, “Though the U.S. did not officially announce their disapproval, it is possible that clashes will arise between the Korea-U.S. alliance for giving priority over to North Korea.”
Further, Mr. Song said, “The strongest fighting power can only be maintained when cyber, internal and external training is systematically enforced without failure” and added, “Problems inevitably arise when exercises that need to be initiated at the designated are not enforced and postponed like the recent exercise.”
