Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday the joint military exercises with the South Korean government will begin after the Paralympics conclude in the middle of March.
“Exercises are not just done on military bases in defense of [South Korea],” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday. “So we worked with [the South Koreans] on it and [the exercises] will start sometime … after the Paralympics.”
The U.S. and South Korean government earlier in the day agreed to postpone the military exercises until after the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February. The announcement came just after South Korea proposed to hold a talk with North Korea about the games next week.
According to a readout of President Trump’s call with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the two governments "agreed to de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that United States and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the Games."
The leaders also “agreed to continue the campaign of maximum pressure against North Korea” and pledged they would ensure the Olympics would be “safe and successful.”
South Korea offered to hold talks with North Korea on Jan. 9, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed interest in sending athletes to compete in the Olympic Games. Should the talks happen next week, this would be the first time the countries have engaged in dialogue since December 2015.
The military exercises are designed to prepare U.S. and South Korean troops to work alongside each other if necessary. The U.S. military has maintained that the exercises are critical in preparing for the defense of South Korea.
The Olympics will be held from Feb. 9-25 and the Paralympics will be held from March 8-18.
