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South Korea: Trump agrees to suspend military drills during Olympics | South Korea: Trump agrees to suspend military drills during Olympics |
(about 2 hours later) | |
South Korea says US President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend their joint military drills during the Olympics. | South Korea says US President Donald Trump has agreed to suspend their joint military drills during the Olympics. |
The war simulations were set to clash with the Winter Games, which take place in the South Korean town of Pyeongchang in February. | The war simulations were set to clash with the Winter Games, which take place in the South Korean town of Pyeongchang in February. |
The decision came in response to a request from Seoul. | The decision came in response to a request from Seoul. |
It was feared the training sessions would anger North Korea, which re-opened communications with the South this week. | It was feared the training sessions would anger North Korea, which re-opened communications with the South this week. |
US Defence Secretary James Mattis said the delay was "a practical matter" - part of "the normal give and take", and the drills would be conducted after the Paralympics finished on 19 March. | |
In a phone call with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, Mr Trump said he would send a high-level delegation, including members of his family, to the Games. | In a phone call with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, Mr Trump said he would send a high-level delegation, including members of his family, to the Games. |
He also said he hoped for a good result in any talks between North and South Korea. | He also said he hoped for a good result in any talks between North and South Korea. |
Pyongyang has not yet committed to formal talks, but President Moon has offered 9 January as a possible date. | Pyongyang has not yet committed to formal talks, but President Moon has offered 9 January as a possible date. |
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump claimed, on Twitter, that the renewed contact between the countries was down to his hard-line tactics. | Earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump claimed, on Twitter, that the renewed contact between the countries was down to his hard-line tactics. |
Since coming to power, the US president has regularly traded insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. | Since coming to power, the US president has regularly traded insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. |
He has also encouraged other leaders to isolate the country. | He has also encouraged other leaders to isolate the country. |
On Wednesday, a hotline between the North and South was reopened, almost two years after it was disabled on Mr Kim's orders. | On Wednesday, a hotline between the North and South was reopened, almost two years after it was disabled on Mr Kim's orders. |
A brief call was made while tests were carried out. | A brief call was made while tests were carried out. |
North Korea has said it wants to discuss sending a delegation to the Pyeongchang Games. | North Korea has said it wants to discuss sending a delegation to the Pyeongchang Games. |
Mr Kim took many people by surprise in his New Year's Day speech when he suddenly expressed an interest. | Mr Kim took many people by surprise in his New Year's Day speech when he suddenly expressed an interest. |
He spoke of melting "frozen North-South relations" and said attending the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people" in North Korea. | He spoke of melting "frozen North-South relations" and said attending the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people" in North Korea. |
The two nations have not held high-level talks since December 2015. | The two nations have not held high-level talks since December 2015. |
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