Asia-Pacific

S. Korea, US cancel joint naval drill

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-25 09:15

SEOUL- South Korea and the United States have decided to cancel a joint naval drill in the Yellow Sea, originally scheduled late this month, local media reported on Sunday, citing a senior government source.

The two allies originally sought to stage a joint exercise involving the US aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, late this month as part of response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s alleged sinking of a South Korean warship in late March that killed 46 sailors.

However, a high-level government official said on condition of anonymity that an exercise with the participation of the USS George Washington is unlikely to take place this year, and both sides will not hold large-scale joint drills for the time being, according to Seoul's state-run broadcaster KBS.

Given that an anti-submarine training was held from September 27 to October 1 in the Yellow Sea, it is realistically difficult for Seoul and Washington to stage another large-scale naval drill, the source said.

The two allies made the decision in order to "not to irritate neighboring countries" so as to improve conditions for the upcoming G20 summit, Seoul's Yonhap News Agency said, citing another government source.

In addition, the two countries also decided to put off a large- scale landing drill, scheduled to be conducted in the Yellow Sea late this month, until after the G20 summit.

The G20 Seoul Summit will be held on November 11-12.