US, South Korea Postpone Military Exercises As Virus Cases Spike to Nearly 1,600

U.S. Marines (L) and South Korean Marines, wearing blue headbands on their helmets, take positions after landing on the beach during the joint military combined amphibious exercise, called Ssangyong, part of the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle military exercises, in Pohang, South Korea, on March 12, 2016. Kim Jun-bum/Yonhap via AP

The United States and South Korea have decided to postpone their joint military exercises this spring until further notice due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the East Asian country.

The announcement was made as South Korea’s tally of known cases increase to nearly 1,600, including 13 fatalities.

The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) announced on the morning of Feb. 27 that the decision to postpone the joint exercise was made in response to the South Korean government’s recent decision to raise its virus alert level to “severe”—the highest of four levels.

Last year, the two allies held mainly computer-simulated drills, known as Dong Maeng, in March and August. These drills were scaled-down versions of the real exercises known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle that have been held in the years past, amid denuclearization efforts involving North Korea.

South Korean Marines, wearing blue headbands on their helmets, and U.S. Marines move together during the annual joint military exercise Key Resolve and Foal Eagle by South Korea and the United States in Pohang, South Korea, Monday, March 7, 2016. Kim Jun-bum/Yonhap via AP

On Feb. 23, South Korean President Moon Jae-in raised the alert level to the nation’s highest as the number of coronavirus cases multiplied from 104 on Thursday to 602 on Sunday.

“The containment efforts for COVID-19 and the safety of the ROK [Repubic of Korea] and U.S. service members were prioritized in making this decision,” USFK stated.

The decision to postpone the exercise was first raised by General Park Hanki, chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. USFK commander General Robert “Abe” Abrams agreed to the postponement “based on the severity of the present COVID-19 situation within South Korea,” according to the announcement.

Additionally, the decision will “adhere to and support South Korea’s containment and mitigation plan for COVID-19.”

USFK stressed that the decision to delay the joint military exercises was “not taken lightly,” and added the two countries remain “committed to providing a credible military deterrence and maintaining a robust combined defense posture to protect the ROK against any threat.”

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced 334 new confirmed cases and one additional death on Feb. 27 morning, bringing the nation’s total to at least 1,595.

The latest death involves a 74-year-old patient who died of respiratory failure on Feb. 27, according to local outlet Yonhap News Agency. The patient is tied to the localized outbreak from Shincheonji Church in Daegu, which led to a large spike in cases in Daegu and nearby areas. Many of those cases have been traced back to a 61-year-old female follower of the church who tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18 as the country’s 31st confirmed case.

A woman wearing a mask to prevent contracting the coronavirus walks past a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Daegu, South Korea on Feb. 21, 2020. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

Of the 334 new cases, 307 are in Daegu and four are in the broader North Gyeongsang province.

Among the 1,595 cases, 1,107 are in Daegu and 321 are in North Gyeongsang province.

Another six cases are in the capital Seoul, three in Daejeon, two are in Ulsan, four in Gyeonggi province, two in North Chungcheong province, four in South Chungcheong province, and two in South Gyeongsang province.

Meanwhile, one Korean Army civilian worker and 20 soldiers—13 in the Army, five in the Air Force, and one each in the Navy and the Marine Corps—are also infected with the virus, Yonhap reported on Feb. 27, citing the defense ministry.

On Feb. 26, USFK announced that a 23-year-old U.S. soldier stationed at Camp Carroll in South Korea had tested positive for coronavirus—the first U.S. soldier to be infected.

Camp Carroll is located in the village of Waegwan, which is about 12 miles from the city of Daegu.

About 9,500 service members of the Korean military are quarantined at their bases. Among them, 540 have symptoms of the virus or have come in contact with infected patients, while the remaining recently visited Daegu or nearby areas.

The U.S. State Department has raised its travel advisory for South Korea to Level 3, the second-highest of a four-level system, urging people to reconsider travel to the East Asian country.

“If suspected to have COVID-19 (coronavirus) in South Korea, you may face travel delays, quarantine, and extremely expensive medical costs,” the State Department said.

On Feb. 24,  the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its travel advisory to South Korea to “Level 3,” calling for travelers to avoid nonessential travel to the country.