U.S. officials said Friday that an exercise with South Korea has resumed, but said U.S. personnel on the peninsula remain in a heightened state of readiness after provocative acts by North Korea this month.
“We suspended part of the exercises temporarily in order to allow our side to coordinate with the [South Korean] side on the subject of the exchange of artillery fire across the [demilitarized zone],” said David Shear, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.
Artillery fire in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea put the region in a state of heightened tensions, Shear said. North Korean leader Kim Jung-un also ordered his troops to a “quasi-state of war” to prepare for battle against South Korea, the Associated Press reported.
“The United States is very concerned by the DPRK’s August 4 violation of the armistice agreement,” Shear said. “We are monitoring the situation very closely.”
As a result, America’s annual exercise with South Korea, which began on Monday, was suspended temporarily, a decision made by the local commander in consultation with South Korean officials. Shear said it has since resumed, but said that is only because commanders have been briefed on the incident, not because the threat has disappeared.
“U.S. forces went on an enhanced status as part of the exercise. They are remaining in an enhanced status as part of the exercise to ensure adequate deterrence on the peninsula,” Shear said.
