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Progressive Groups and Lawmakers Demand Immediate Halt to South Korea‑U.S. Military Drills

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Progressive Coalition Calls for Immediate Drill Suspension A coalition of 357 civic and religious groups, together with 13 lawmakers, convened a Seoul press conference on Tuesday urging the government to suspend the regular South Korea‑U.S. joint exercises, labeling them a source of heightened tension on the peninsula [1]. Representative Lee In‑young of the ruling Democratic Party publicly backed the call, emphasizing the need for diplomatic overtures toward North Korea [1]. The coalition framed the suspension as a prerequisite for any meaningful peace talks, arguing that continued drills undermine recent outreach efforts [1].

Large Public Turnout Reinforces Anti‑Drill Sentiment Over 200 individuals attended the press event, joining the coalition’s appeal to end the drills and pursue diplomatic channels [1]. Organizers highlighted the broad-based support from citizens who view the exercises as provocative and counterproductive to peace [1]. The sizable attendance was presented as evidence that public opinion favors de‑escalation over military posturing [1].

Demands Include Border De‑Escalation Measures The coalition urged the government to halt all hostilities near the inter‑Korean border and to redefine buffer zones across air, sea, and land to prevent incidents that could threaten the Military Demarcation Line [1]. They cited the 2018 inter‑Korean tensions‑reduction pact as a framework for establishing these new zones [1]. The groups warned that ongoing firing drills and drone flights risk accidental clashes and undermine confidence‑building measures [1].

Shift From Military Pressure to Normalization Policy The petition called for a fundamental policy shift away from strategies that prioritize military pressure on North Korea [1]. Instead, it advocated for a normalization approach that respects each side’s political systems and seeks constructive engagement [1]. The coalition argued that such a pivot would create conditions conducive to lasting peace and stability on the peninsula [1].

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Timeline

1992 – The United States and South Korea suspend the annual Team Spirit joint exercises, a precedent later cited by officials as a possible diplomatic lever. [7]

1994 – A second suspension of Team Spirit occurs, reinforcing the notion that large‑scale drills can be paused without immediate security fallout. [7]

2018 – The allies delay Team Spirit amid heightened tensions, illustrating that exercise adjustments have been used as confidence‑building gestures in the past. [7]

Nov 23, 2025 – South Korean Unification Minister Lee Jae‑yeong declares that reunification remains Seoul’s ultimate goal and stresses a peaceful, gradual approach toward the North. [11]

Nov 24, 2025 – North Korea enacts an urban development law aimed at improving housing, infrastructure, and public services, signaling a domestic focus on economic modernization. [11]

Nov 26, 2025 – Minister Lee again urges a peaceful, gradual policy toward Pyongyang, warning that accidental border clashes must be avoided while seeking to resume dialogue. [11]

Nov 27, 2025 – Kim Jong‑un inspects a greenhouse farm in Sinuiju, highlighting the regime’s push to boost agricultural productivity near the Chinese border. [11]

Nov 28, 2025 – North Korea’s foreign ministry states the upcoming South Korea‑U.S. drills are intended to deter the North, while U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) counters that the exercises are strictly defensive. [11][12]

Nov 28, 2025 – Satellite imagery shows Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center undergoing modernization, underscoring continued expansion of North Korea’s plutonium and uranium capabilities. [12]

Dec 7, 2025 – National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac affirms Seoul is not using joint drills as leverage to restart inter‑Korean talks, despite limited diplomatic progress. [9][10]

Dec 8, 2025 – The Unification Ministry says adjustments to the Korea‑U.S. exercises could be discussed if “necessary conditions and a suitable environment” arise, clarifying no immediate policy shift. [8]

Dec 10, 2025 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young argues that keeping the option to adjust drills open may help revive stalled dialogue with Pyongyang, framing the exercises as a tool for peace, not an end in themselves. [6]

Dec 11, 2025 – At a Goyang press conference, Chung reiterates that adjusting or downsizing the joint drills could create space for negotiations, and he cites President Donald Trump’s upcoming China visit as a potential breakthrough for a North‑South meeting. [5]

Dec 12, 2025 – A Yonhap summary notes that South Korea will not adjust its joint drills to revive talks, echoing Wi Sung‑lac’s stance and highlighting ongoing diplomatic coordination with the United States. [4]

Dec 15, 2025 – Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of USFK and Combined Forces Command, stresses that the joint drills are a cornerstone of readiness, warning that unilateral suspension would weaken deterrence; Acting U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim pushes back against using drills as a precondition for dialogue. [7]

Dec 29, 2025 – The Joint Chiefs report that 22 of roughly 40 field drills postponed in August are completed by year‑end, including airborne insertion and live‑fire exercises; two drills run solely by South Korea reflect partial continuation despite the heat‑wave delay. [3]

Jan 7, 2026 – Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back declares the annual South Korea‑U.S. exercises will proceed as planned, calling them a “lifeline for soldiers” and leaving open the possibility of adjustment if U.S.–North Korea talks materialize. [2]

Jan 20, 2026 – A coalition of 357 progressive civic and religious groups and 13 lawmakers, led by Rep. Lee In‑young, urges the government to suspend the joint drills, halt border hostilities, and redefine buffer zones in line with the 2018 tensions‑reduction pact, arguing that diplomacy should replace military pressure. [1]

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