Concession : America, Kim Jong-un and wargames

The US and South Korea will go ahead with annual joint military exercises next month, but for only half as long as usual, in a concession to North Korea

It is the clearest confirmation yet that high-level talks are being planned between the three countries.

In a sign that shows that North Korea now has the ears of both countries, Seoul and Washington announced today that their joint military exercises will begin on April 1 but will last for a month rather than their usual seven or eight weeks.




In the past the exercises have been an annual cause of anger to North Korea, which considers them to be a preparation for invasion. Notably, the US has recently added to the tension by dispatching bombers, stealth aircraft and nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers to take part.



Sounding conciliatory, a Pentagon statement said: “Our combined exercises are defence-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a provocation.”