Seoul: South Korea and the United States are in discussions over potentially delaying certain field training exercises scheduled for their joint military drills later this month, according to military sources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two allies are preparing for the annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, slated for mid-August. These exercises have been criticized by North Korea as preparations for invasion. However, due to the intense heat, the countries are contemplating postponing some of these field training exercises (FTX) until after September, although computer-simulated command post exercises will proceed as scheduled.

The sources indicate that out of the usual 30 to 40 FTXs conducted during these joint exercises, approximately 10 may be delayed. This potential change comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration aims to improve inter-Korean relations and reopen dialogue with North Korea.

Earlier this week, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, South Korea's primary liaison with North Korea, announced his intention to propose adjustments to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises to President Lee. This follows criticism from Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, who condemned the joint drills as South Korea's "blind adherence" to its alliance with Washington.

Regiment-level FTXs were previously suspended during the UFS period in 2018 under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration but resumed in 2022 following the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government taking office. The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command emphasized that any decisions regarding alliance training and exercises will be determined through established consultation processes, with both nations closely coordinating the exercise details.