Another Indicator of the End of the US-ROK Alliance?

What’s the point of an alliance if you are not allowed to train together?:

“Since the end of last year, some in the government have been adamant that the RSOI and Foal Eagle drills must be postponed and have talked to the USFK about the issue,” a government source said Monday. “They judged that North Korea was likely to be sensitive to the joint drills to the point where that would impede progress in dialogue between the two Koreas.”

But the sources say USFK leaders would not accept political considerations as a valid motive for delaying the long-scheduled drills, and since many in the Korean military also felt the suggestion was unreasonable, the government last Friday decided to abandon the plan and go ahead as if it never existed. It could not be confirmed on Monday whether the initiative came from the National Security Council or the Unification Ministry, both of which tend to be considerate of North Korean sensitivities.

At least the USFK leaders are willing to blow off any ideas from the Unification Ministry. Can you imagine the uproar if UFL was cancelled? At least USFK is looking out for all those Field Grade Officers that come to Korea from the states banking all that TDY money and going on Itaewon shopping sprees.