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Acting US ambassador to South Korea Marc Knapper speaks at a press conference at the American embassy in Seoul on Feb. 28. (Photo Pool)

Acting US Ambassador to South Korea Marc Knapper said on Feb. 28 there was no possibility of additional postponement of scheduled joint South Korea-US military exercises. The Moon Jae-in administration has put off announcing a position on the exercises, which are reportedly set to resume in April once the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics are finished.

Knapper’s remarks came in response to a question about the possibility of additional postponement of the joint military exercises during a talk with reporters that morning at his official residence in Seoul’s Jeong-dong neighborhood.

“We made the decision to de-conflict the exercise, a gesture out of respect to the spirit of the Olympics and out of respect to ensure the success of the Games here,” Knapper explained about the postponement.

“At the same time, there is a very real need for our alliance to take necessary measures to maintain our strong deterrence policy, and the only way to do that is through the joint military exercises,” he continued.

On Feb. 20, South Korean Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo said a “precise announcement” would come from the South Korean and US foreign minister “after [the close of the Paralympics on] Mar. 18 and before April.”

In regard to the conditions for US-North Korea dialogue, Knapper said that the US wants dialogue that is clearly aimed at denuclearization, since anything else would just buy time for North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles. At the same time, he noted that Pyongyang knows how to get in touch with the US, hinting that the “New York channel” is open.

Knapper also responded to concerns that the Trump administration’s policy toward North Korea could become even harsher after the retirement of Joseph Yun, the State Department’s Special Representative for North Korea Policy, who is regarded as a proponent of negotiating with the North. “Our policy remains the same. Our close coordination with South Korea continues, unabated,” the acting ambassador said.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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