The US and South Korea have postponed joint military exercises that were supposed to start next week as a result of the growing COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, officials announced this week.
In a late Wednesday release, the US Forces Korea indicated that the move was “not taken lightly,” and that despite the decision, the alliance between the two countries remains “ironclad and unbreakable.”
The announcement to delay the drills was made jointly by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the US military in South Korea, Politico reported. According to Kim Jun Rak, a spokesperson at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the drills that were supposed to take place in the first half of the year have been postponed until further notice.
According to a report by Stars & Stripes, the US military officials also indicated that a South Korean employee in the southeastern city of Daegu has been infected with the virus.
A 23-year-old American soldier stationed in South Korea became the first US service member confirmed to be infected with the virus on Wednesday. According to Politico, South Korea has reported 21 cases of the virus among its military personnel.
The infected US soldier was stationed at Camp Carroll. After exhibiting symptoms, he was transported to the Camp Humphreys garrison located near the Anjeong Ri and Pyeongtaek metropolitan areas and placed in an isolation unit.
The US State Department has asked Americans to reconsider traveling to South Korea…
