Postponing Joint Drills

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in told American broadcaster NBC news that Seoul and Washington are considering a postponement for their upcoming joint military drills. The president said he hopes the games will send a message of peace.

[Pkg]

In his interview with NBC, the official broadcaster of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, President Moon Jae-in said he had proposed to Washington that the joint military exercises be postponed on the precondition that Pyongyang suspends its provocations. Moon said that Pyongyang's suspension of its provocations until the PyeongChang Winter Olympics would help greatly to host the Games in a safe way and create an atmosphere of dialogue with Washington and Seoul. President Moon went on to say if that happens, Seoul and Washington might consider postponing their joint military exercise scheduled for the Winter Olympics period, and that Washington is already considering this proposition. However, Moon stressed that it's all up to Pyongyang. The South Korean president also said that foreign tourists who will be visiting Korea during the PyeongChang Olympic Games do not have to worry about their safety. He added that he doesn't believe that North Korea would try to cause any damage to the Olympic Games. President Moon said that the South Korean public will send a message of peace to the world through the upcoming Olympic Games. He expressed hope that the Games would contribute to easing tensions between South and North Korea.