Abrams: Pausing joint military exercises with South Korea a 'prudent risk'

The nominee to lead U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula said today temporarily suspending joint military exercises with South Korea is a “prudent risk” as diplomats work toward a peace agreement with North Korea. But he acknowledged lawmakers' concerns that readiness has been degraded and will continue to erode over time if the exercises remain paused.

Army Gen. Robert Abrams told the Senate Armed Services Committee today that, if confirmed, he would make it one of his “top priorities” to determine the state of readiness between U.S. and South Korean forces.

“Going forward, we know inherently by not conducting training and exercises that there will be a degradation of readiness,” he said.

Military officials, Abrams said, are attempting to “mitigate” the loss of readiness through much smaller staff exercises.

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) said he is concerned that halting exercises will erode U.S. forces' ability to “fight tonight” alongside South Korea.

Abrams acknowledged the concerns, but said pausing large military exercises is a good thing for now because U.S. policy “has to adjust” to allow for a possible accord with North Korea, which has developed nuclear weapons capable of hitting U.S. targets and has long viewed the joint exercises as provocative.

When he met with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in April, President Trump committed to suspending this fall's exercises, which led to criticism on Capitol Hill, especially from the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters in August there were no plans to suspend joint U.S.-South Korea exercises scheduled for spring 2019, though it could happen.

Meanwhile, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) asked Abrams if he would favor removing all U.S. forces from the Korean Peninsula in the event North Korea makes it a precondition for disestablishing its nuclear weapons program.

Abrams said he did not want to answer the hypothetical question, but Sullivan reminded Abrams Trump has publicly discussed the potential drawdown.

“It's not that hypothetical -- the president has talked about it in the press,” Sullivan said.

Abrams said it would be difficult for him to “boil down” his answer to a simple yes or no, but said removing all U.S. troops from South Korea would be fraught with risk and “encouraged” by China and Russia.