SEOUL: South Korea stated on Monday (Aug 24) that the US had cancelled a big joint amphibious touchdown train scheduled for subsequent month resulting from constraints on power availability attributable to the war with Iran.
The biennial Ssangyong drills contain marine forces from South Korea and the US and are designed to strengthen mixed operations, sometimes involving warships, plane and floor forces rehearsing amphibious landings.
The cancellation follows US President Donald Trump’s order final week to scale down the separate annual Ulchi Freedom Protect workouts, reducing the joint drills from 11 days to 5.
Trump on the time cited their excessive value and stated they despatched an “inappropriate and hostile” sign to North Korea, whereas highlighting his relationship with its chief, Kim Jong Un.
“The US Marine Corps formally notified our forces in June that its potential to deploy forces throughout this yr’s Ssangyong train can be constrained as a result of scenario within the Center East,” Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps, instructed reporters at a information briefing.
Seoul and Washington have been persevering with consultations on resuming the amphibious train, he stated, with out giving particulars.
The Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Seoul’s announcement.
Trump’s order final week to cut back the Ulchi Freedom Protect train got here as he seeks to revive the connection he developed with Kim throughout his first time period.
The US president stated Wednesday that it was essential to “get alongside” with Kim, including that Pyongyang now had 57 “very highly effective” nuclear weapons.
Seoul estimates that North Korea has round 80 to 120 such weapons.
Trump and Kim met 3 times throughout Trump’s first time period, however Pyongyang accelerated its nuclear programmes after their second 2019 summit in Hanoi collapsed with out an settlement on North Korea’s denuclearisation.
