美韓決定推遲年度軍演
The United States and South Korea have decided to delay joint military exercises until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month, officials from both countries said Thursday.
South Korea's Blue House (executive office) said the decision came during a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in.
A White House statement said both leaders “agreed to de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that [the] United States and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the games.”
Earlier on Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Robert Manning said, "The Department of Defense supports the president's decision and what is in the best interest of the ROK (Republic of Korea) - U.S. Alliance."
The annual joint military exercises known as Foal Eagle are usually held between February and April and are one of the world's largest such drills. The exercises combine ground, air, naval and special operations to increase readiness to defend South Korea and the region. North Korea routinely objects to the exercises.
Earlier, Trump tweeted that his “firm” and “strong” leadership was the impetus for a scheduled resumption of talks between North and South Korea.
"With all of the failed "experts" weighing in, does anybody really believe that talks and dialogue would be going on between North and South Korea right now if I wasn't firm, strong and willing to commit our total "might" against the North. Fools, but talks are a good thing!"
On Wednesday, North and South Korea reopened a cross-border hotline that had been shut down since 2016 after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered to send a team to the Winter Olympic Games hosted by the South next month. After the reopening, South Korea confirmed that officials from both countries talked for 20 minutes, according to The Associated Press.美國和韓國官員表示，兩國決定把聯合軍演推遲到下個月的平昌冬奧會結束之後。
韓國青瓦臺說，這是美國總統川普和韓國總統文在寅週四早些時候通電話時決定的。
白宮發表聲明說，兩國領導人“同意減少奧運會和兩國軍演的衝突風險，以便讓美韓軍隊能夠集中精力確保奧運會安全。”
星期四早些時候，五角大樓發言人、陸軍上校羅伯特·曼寧說：“國防部支持總統的決定，支持最符合美韓聯盟利益的做法。”
每年一度的美韓“鷂鷹”聯合軍演是世界上規模最大的演習之一，通常在2月至4月舉行。 演習綜合地面、空中、海上和特種作戰行動，爲保衛韓國和該地區而加強備戰。 朝鮮每一次都會譴責這一演習。
早些時候，川普總統在推特上說，朝鮮半島南北方定下了恢復會談的日期，這一原動力來自他“堅定”和“強大”的領導力。
川普寫道： “那些失敗的‘專家’ 都在點評，但難道真有人會相信，要不是我的堅定、強大並願意投入我們的全面‘實力’反對北方，南北韓之間現在會進行談判和對話。蠢啊，但會談是好事！”
韓國和朝鮮星期三重新啓動了一條2016年以來一直關閉的跨境熱線。朝鮮領導人金正恩表示願意派運動員參加韓國下個月主辦的冬季奧運會。據美聯社報道，韓國官員證實，雙方官員在熱線啓動後交談了20分鐘。
