US, South Korea Agree To End 'Key Resolve,' 'Foal Eagle' Joint Drills - Pentagon

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 03rd March, 2019) The United States and South Korea have agreed to stop their Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of joint exercises, the US Department of Defense said, following the phone talks between US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo.

"Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the KEY RESOLVE and FOAL EAGLE series of exercises," the department said in a readout of the phone call.

The decision came after the two-day US-North Korean summit in Hanoi.

Meanwhile, the Yonhap news agency reported that during the phone talks, the allies had also agreed to maintain robust military readiness through new command post exercises.

"The minister and secretary made clear that the alliance's decision regarding the adjustment of the exercise and drills reflects both countries' expectation to back diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through a final, full verified method," the South Korean Ministry said, as quoted by the agency.