THE US and South Korea agreed yesterday to delay their joint military exercises until after the Winter Olympics next month, in an apparent move to de-escalate tensions with Pyongyang.

The announcement came just hours after US President Donald Trump said high-level talks set for next week between North and South Korea were “a good thing”.

Tensions have spiralled in recent months after North Korea held multiple missile launches, and its sixth and most powerful nuclear test – purportedly of a hydrogen bomb.

Trump has also traded personal insults with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, rattling regional allies.

But the last few days have witnessed a rare softening of tone on both sides of the demilitarised zone after Kim offered an olive branch to Seoul during a New Year speech, saying he was willing to send a team to next month’s Winter Olympics in the South.

The tentative rapprochement took a further step yesterday after South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke to Trump by telephone, with both agreeing to suspend joint military drills, a regular source of Pyongyang’s ire.

“The two leaders agreed to de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that US and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the Games,” the White House said in a statement.

Moon’s office said the South Korean president told Trump that delaying the exercises would help ensure the success of the Winter Olympics – being hosted in Pyeongchang – “in case the North does not make any more provocations”.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis later said the delay was for practical, rather than political, reasons.

“We have, at times, changed the timelines on these (drills) for any number of reasons, so for us, this is the normal give and take that we have,” he said, noting that the Olympics were South Korea’s biggest event in terms of international tourism.

He added that the drills, known as Foal Eagle, would be conducted some time after the Paralympics, which would end on March 18. – AFP, January 5, 2018.