{"id":56345,"date":"2020-02-27T01:30:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T01:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/27\/south-korea-us-postpone-annual-military-drills-due-to-virus\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:38:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:38:36","slug":"south-korea-us-postpone-annual-military-drills-due-to-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2020\/02\/27\/south-korea-us-postpone-annual-military-drills-due-to-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea, US postpone annual military drills due to virus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 The South Korean and U.S. militaries announced Thursday that they were postponing their annual joint drills due to concern about a viral outbreak that has infected soldiers in both countries\u2019 armed forces, put many troops in quarantine and closed base facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-two South Korean soldiers and one American service member in South Korea<\/a> have tested positive for the new coronavirus, which has infected about 1,770 people in the Asian country, the largest outbreak outside mainland China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The allies have previously suspended or scaled back their regular military exercises, but that was part of diplomatic efforts to disarm North Korea, which views the training as a rehearsal for an invasion. It’s the first time that the allies have put off their drills due to concerns about an infectious disease, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\t