South Korea will stage two military drills next week amid a thaw in relations with North Korea, which have prompted Seoul and Washington to suspend joint exercises with the United States to spur nuclear talks.
The allies agreed last week to halt the Vigilant Ace air defense drills planned for December, after delaying August's major annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises.
The move was intended to give the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea "every opportunity to continue," the Pentagon said.