Seoul: The South Korean and U.S. militaries have decided to postpone the announcement of a date for their major springtime military exercise due to differences over the scale of on-field drills. The decision comes amidst differing views on how extensive the field training should be during the Freedom Shield exercise.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the allies had intended to announce the exercise date in a joint press briefing on Wednesday. However, this was postponed after the U.S. military expressed reluctance over South Korea's proposal to minimize field training activities. These military exercises are conducted each spring under a scenario that simulates all-out war, aiming to enhance readiness against North Korea's advancing nuclear and weapons programs.

Under the current Lee Jae Myung administration, South Korea has sought to reduce the scale of on-field drills as a conciliatory gesture towards Pyongyang, which perceives these exercises as preparations for an invasion. A military source indicated that coordination issues over the field exercises led to the postponement, with South Korea advocating for reduced on-field training while the U.S. has reservations about this approach.

The U.S. military has reportedly shown disapproval towards South Korea's proposal, given that additional troops and equipment have already been dispatched for the drills. Both sides are expected to continue discussions and aim to announce the exercise schedule later this month or early March.

Last year, during the major summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, only half of the planned on-field drills were conducted, with the remaining exercises staged until the year's end. A defense ministry official stated that the Freedom Shield exercise, planned for March, will proceed as usual, focusing on verifying capabilities for the transition of wartime operational control to the South Korean military, a responsibility currently held by U.S. forces.