South Korea Asks US To Delay Military Exercises In Run Up To Winter Olympics

South Korea's president, Moon Jae-In, has asked the US to consider delaying joint military exercises until next year's Winter Olympics has finished in a bid to avoid provoking North Korea.

The South will host the games in February.

The annual military drills are considered to be rehearsals for an invasion by North Korea.

The president said:

“It is possible for South Korea and the US to review the possibility of postponing the exercises,” Moon said in an interview with NBC. 

“I have made such a suggestion to the US and the US is currently reviewing it. However, all this depends on how North Korea behaves.”

The drills carried out by the US military have previously been a major source of tension in the region, with North Korea denouncing them as rehearsals for an invasion.

A spokesman for the US Pacific command, Dave Benham, declined to discuss any plans for exercises.

Earlier this month, the US and South Korea launched joint areal drills, a week after the North announced that it had tested an ICBM capable of reaching the US mainland.

Moon also said:

“If North Korea stops its provocations leading up to the Pyeongchang Olympics, it will greatly help in holding a safe Olympics.”

 “Also, it will help in creating a conducive atmosphere towards inter-Korean as well as US-North Korean dialogue.”