South Korea's unification ministry said adjustments to joint military drills with the U.S. could be discussed if necessary conditions are met. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac emphasized that the exercises are not being considered as a direct card for dialogue with North Korea. This highlights differing stances amid efforts to revive inter-Korean talks.
On December 7, 2025, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac stated in a briefing that South Korea is not directly considering joint military exercises with the U.S. as a card for resuming dialogue with North Korea. "If we are to resume dialogue, we need to consider what cards we can use. While there are many possible options, we are not directly considering using the Korea-U.S. joint exercises as a card," Wi said. He acknowledged limited progress in inter-Korean relations but pledged continued efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and resume talks with Pyongyang.
President Lee Jae Myung said last month that a stable peace regime making large-scale exercises unnecessary would be desirable in the long term, but decisions must depend on evolving security circumstances. He called it premature and the "most sensitive" issue for North Korea. Pyongyang has long denounced the Seoul-Washington exercises as "war rehearsals," while the allies maintain they are defensive in nature.
On December 8, unification ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho responded that adjustments could possibly be discussed if conditions and the environment come into place in the future. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has advocated scaling back major drills to revive long-stalled dialogue with Pyongyang. Yoon declined to comment directly on Wi's remarks, stating only that combined South Korea-U.S. exercises have important implications not only militarily but also for inter-Korean relations and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul has renewed calls for dialogue after proposing military talks to clarify the Military Demarcation Line and prevent unintended clashes near the border, but Pyongyang has yet to respond. Wi told reporters that North Korea's omission from the U.S.'s recent National Security Strategy does not indicate indifference but stems from its "America First" focus. The U.S. released the document last Friday without mentioning North Korea, a departure from past versions.
