US, South Korea conclude two military drills

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

The U.S. and South Korea on Sunday concluded their annual large-scale military drills held in the Korean Peninsula every spring months, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The statement said that the Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and South Korea's Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo held a phone talk and assessed coordination of measures to establish complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"The Secretary and Minister reviewed and approved the Alliance decisions recommended by the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff on the combined exercise and training program. Following close coordination, both sides decided to conclude the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle series of exercises," the statement said.

There were allegations regarding the ending of the exercises -- known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle -- following the summit the U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Foal Eagle drill was held every spring months since 2011 whereas Key Resolve had been in existence since 1976.