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'No reason' for war games with South Korea: Trump

Wednesday, 29 August 2018 11:38 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 30 August 2018 6:27 AM ]

President Donald Trump views air-assault exercises at Fort Drum, New York, on August 13, 2018, before a signing ceremony for H.R. 5515, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

US President Donald Trump says there is no reason for conducting joint military drills with South Korea over ongoing discussions about North Korea’s nuclear program.

“The President believes that his relationship with Kim Jong Un is a very good and warm one, and there is no reason at this time to be spending large amounts of money on joint U.S.-South Korea war games,” the White House said in a statement that Trump himself issued on Twitter on Wednesday. “Besides, the president can instantly start the joint exercises again with South Korea, and Japan, if he so chooses."

This is while US Defense Secretary James Mattis had announced earlier that there were no plans to cancel future military exercises between Washington and Seoul.

PressTV-Japan says North Korea still a ‘serious, imminent threat’

Japan says North Korea continues to pose a “serious and imminent threat” to the country despite Pyongyang’s suspension of its missile and nuclear tests.

“We have no plans at this time to suspend any more exercises,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

The White House is meanwhile accusing China stalled efforts to put an end to North Korea’s nuclear program, citing “tremendous pressure” by Beijing on Pyongyang over ongoing trade war between the US and China.

“At the same time, we also know that China is providing North Korea with considerable aid, including money, fuel, fertilizer and various other commodities,” the White House said. “This is not helpful!”

PressTV-No evidence N Korea nuclear activities stopped: IAEA

The IAEA says it has not found any indication that North Korea has stopped its nuclear activities.

Despite that the White House described Trump’s relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “very strong.”

As part of Trump’s push to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Pentagon announced in June it would indefinitely suspend two training exercises with South Korea.

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