[Anchor]
Following U.S. President Trump's directive to scale back combined South Korea-U.S. military exercises, it has been confirmed that the field maneuver exercises, which began yesterday (the 17th), will be significantly reduced. More than 10 out of the 14 planned exercises could be canceled.
Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has this exclusive report.
[Reporter]
As the second day of the lower half of the year's combined South Korea-U.S. exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), got underway today, General Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, unusually left the UFS command post this afternoon and visited the Ministry of National Defense building in Seoul.
It is reported that Commander Brunson discussed reduction measures with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in connection with U.S. President Trump's directive to scale back the combined exercises.
The targets for reduction are the 14 combined field maneuver exercises planned during this UFS period.
A South Korean military official told SBS, "During last year's combined exercises, the U.S. military accepted our military's request to reduce field training," adding, "This time, because the U.S. military requested the reduction, our military has no choice but to comply."
Another key government official stated, "The South Korean and U.S. military authorities are coordinating so that South Korea-led combined exercises will be conducted solely by the South Korean military, and U.S.-led combined exercises solely by the U.S. military."
The official added, "Out of the 14 field maneuver exercises, 10 or more could potentially be canceled."
It has been confirmed that the landing exercise, which is symbolic of the combined South Korea-U.S. exercises, has already been scaled back to a South Korean military-only drill.
An unusual situation also occurred regarding the main UFS command post.
The command post for the combined exercises is normally located at CP Tango in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, but it was temporarily relocated to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, yesterday.
Following guidance from the U.S. Forces Korea, the command post was subsequently moved back to CP Tango, and U.S. Forces Korea is reportedly set to make a final decision tonight on where to station the command post.
(Video Editing: Chae Chul-ho, Design: Hwang Se-yeon)
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