Pentagon chief: Restoring drills with South Korea not necessary

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Sunday he doesn’t think it’s necessary to resume major joint military exercises with South Korea at this time, according to a Reuters report. 

The exercises were suspended last year amid talks between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Despite negotiations between North Korea stalling, Shanahan told reporters traveling with him to Seoul that resuming joint exercises is not necessary because troops on the Korean peninsula already possess the required military readiness, according to Reuters. {mosads}

Shanahan added that he’d have more to say Monday after discussion with South Korean officials, according to Reuters. 

The decision to suspend the joint exercises was met with confusion and disapproval by many U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.

Trump defended it again in March, following his failed two-day summit in Vietnam with Kim.