Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White referred to the exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, as a “defensive ‘wargame’” in her statement, parroting President Donald Trump’s earlier description. | Getty Images Pentagon suspends Korea ‘war-game’ planning for August

The U.S. military has “suspended all planning” for a joint military exercise with South Korea that was scheduled for August, the Pentagon announced Monday.

The move comes a week after President Donald Trump pledged to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he would halt joint “war games” on the Korean Peninsula, calling them “provocative.”


In a departure from the military’s usual language, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White referred to the exercise, Ulchi Freedom Guardian, as a “defensive ‘wargame’” in her statement, parroting Trump’s earlier description.

Some 17,500 American forces participated in last year’s iteration of Ulchi Freedom Guardian, including 3,000 troops who deployed to South Korea specifically for the exercise.

“We are still coordinating additional actions. No decisions on subsequent war games have been made,” White said.

She added that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton plan to meet at the Pentagon later this week to discuss the next moves.

"There is no impact on Pacific exercises outside of the Korean Peninsula," White emphasized.

