Presidential adviser Prof. Moon's remarks about scaling back exercises sparks controversy

U.S. concerns about President Moon Jae-in's policy could worsen after one of his special advisers suggested a willingness to consider scaling back joint military exercises with the U.S. if North Korea freezes its nuclear and missile programs, experts said Sunday.

Prof. Moon engulfed in controversy over his remarks about scaling bakc US-Korea joint military drills. Source: YTN

Moon Chung-in, a Yonsei University professor serving as special presidential adviser for foreign and security affairs, made the remark during a Wilson Center seminar in Washington on Friday, saying President Moon has proposed the idea as part of an incremental solution to the nuclear standoff.

 

Reducing deployment of U.S. strategic weapons to the South during the exercises could be one way of scaling down the maneuvers, the adviser said, noting that U.S. strategic assets, such as aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines, began participating in joint exercises only several years ago.

 

More details with Korean political analyist Jung Sik Seo.